Torches were almost never used as light fixtures except in sconces. Everyone used either wax candles or burning oil as light sources in houses. Torches burnt to hot and easily burnt down mostly wooden and straw buildings, so they were used as a portable light, a literal torch, hence the name.

hi! a few more responses, all pretty much the same thing: torches weren't the most common choice of light fixture

• Were torches used in medieval times as much as movies make us believe and what were they made out off? - featuring /u/LooksatAnimals

• This might be a stupid question, but how did they make those long burning torches back in the Middle Ages, etc.? - featuring /u/EyeStache

• We've all seen the unrealistic torches used in Hollywood movies, but what were actual torches like during your period of speciality? How were they constructed, how effective were they, and how long would they burn? - featuring /u/Whoosier