**Etymology of Solar:**
– Possible origins of the word ‘solar’: Latin words ‘solaris’ and ‘solus’
– ‘Solaris’ meaning sun, often a room with the brightest aspect
– ‘Solus’ meaning alone, as the solar provided privacy for its occupants
– Solar may come from Latin words with meanings related to the sun and privacy
**Function of Solar:**
– The solar provided privacy for the heads of the household
– Encouraged by senior women for daytime activities like talking, reading, and enjoying views
– Generally smaller than the great hall, not expected to accommodate many people
– Room of comfort and status, often included a fireplace and decorative elements
– Ubiquitous in late castles across the British Isles, sometimes a separate tower for more privacy
**Paradigm Examples of Solar:**
– Edlingham Castle in Northumberland, solar tower mostly intact
– Tattershall Castle, Lincolnshire, large solar block later converted into a tower
– Longthorpe Tower, Peterborough, extension to an existing fortified manor house
– Beverston Castle near Tetbury, 13th-century ruined solar with vaulted undercroft
– Highclere Castle near Newbury, suite of rooms used by owning family demonstrated in TV show ‘Downton Abbey’
**Related Spaces:**
– See also: Parlour
– See also: Drawing room (withdrawing room)
**References:**
– Solar. ancientfortresses.org. Retrieved 20 August 2017
– Struan Reid Castle Life, p. 10, at Google Books
– Andor Gomme, Austin Harvey Gomme, Alison Maguire Design and Plan in the Country House: From Castle Donjons to Palladian Boxes, p. 21, at Google Books
– Solar. greatdixter.co.uk. Retrieved 20 August 2017
– Christopher Gravett Norman Stone Castles (1): The British Isles 1066–1216, p. 16, at Google Books
The solar was a room in many English and French medieval manor houses, great houses and castles, mostly on an upper storey, designed as the family's private living and sleeping quarters. Within castles they are often called the "Lords' and Ladies' Chamber" or the "Great Chamber".
Definition from ChatGPT:
Solar (room):
A solar room is a type of room in a building that is designed to capture and utilize solar energy for heating and lighting purposes. These rooms typically have large windows or skylights to allow sunlight to enter and heat the space naturally. Solar rooms are often used to reduce energy consumption and lower heating costs in a building.