A bed warmer or warming pan was a common household item in countries with cold winters, especially in Europe. It consisted of a metal container, usually fitted with a handle and shaped somewhat like a modern frying pan, with a solid or finely perforated lid.

How were warming pans used?

It is located in the King Henry VIII Bedchamber and would have been used as an early form of bed heating, much like an electric blanket or a hot water bottle today. The pan would have been filled with hot embers from the fire and placed under the bedclothes to heat and air the bed.

Why do we warm bed pan?

The heat from the water should transfer to the bedpan itself, warming it up. A warm bedpan will be more comfortable for the patient to use than a cold one. If it is a metal bedpan, make sure it is not too hot.