Refectory table

Illustration of a refectory table
Refectory tables in the refectory at the Convent of Christ in Tomar, Portugal
A long refectory table at Hearst Castle in San Simeon, California

A refectory table is a highly elongated table[1] used originally for dining in monasteries during Medieval times. In the Late Middle Ages, the table gradually became a banqueting or feasting table in castles and other noble residences. The original table manufacture was by hand and created of oak or walnut; the design is based on a trestle style. Typically, the table legs are supported by circumferential stretchers positioned very low to the floor.