To imagine how big a poor person's home might have been, you can rearrange chairs and tables in your classroom or hall.

The room will be 5m by 5m. This would make quite a good living room today. Next, two people act as parents, two more as grandparents and five act as children. All get inside the space you have marked out for the room.

Now all go to sleep (remember everyone just lay on the floor, with no more than a thin mattress). How much room have you got? Someone can try snoring to give a little atmosphere.

The room also contained a fire to keep you warm. Mark this out with a chair in the centre of the room.

Can you see why people had collapsible furniture that stacked against the walls during the day?