try imagining useing straw mixed with mud shaped into large bricks, dried in the sun for several days. flat stone laid up like brick with mud mortar, sawn logs to reinforce the windows and doors, wood cut for framing the roof with long wood poles running the length of the roof, to which a thick layer of thatch was layed over in rows up to the roof top, securely tied to the poles underneath. hearths and chimneys were constructed of mud straw bricks or flat stone as were the walls, and reinforced on the outside with wood/ mud cribbing to avoid collapse. windows and doors were made of sawn lumber planking(window shutters) and doors swung open on forged hinges or forged metal pins, made by a local blacksmith, as were square sided nails, hammer heads, and saws. a substitute for glass could be made of very thin hide greased to allow some light inside, keep out the wind, cold, rain, and snow. lighting was either in oil (whale or coal oil). or tallow wax candles (home made) with spun flax soaked in tallow. animal shelters were made in the same fashion, as was the outside privey. those with skill, tools or money could afford to use split wood shingles, only the gentry or nobles could afford better materials, larger and more luxurious homes or estates.
