Tuesday 4 October 2011

More about Georgian Kitchens




I promised Fi that I would post some pictures I had found of Georgian kitchens that I used to help me research what I wanted to put into my dollshouse. Kitchen ranges don't seem to have developed much before the early 19th century, which still allows them to fit in to a Georgian kitchen, albeit a Regency one. although I think there is one at Ham House in London dated much earlier than that. I've used the traditional fire dogs, chimney crane and spit (all Sussexcrafts) in the main kitchen, but do have an early range fitted in the servants hall (as you might be able to see later). Bread was baked in a bread oven, where hot embers were placed until the oven was hot, and then raked out again. A salt box would have been kept near the fire to keep the salt dry (mine is by Sandy Eismont, a lovely chap who makes great little miniatures suitable for kitchen or cottage from Tudor onwards!) A kitchen table was essential, with simple chairs and stools for the servants. Utensils were usually copper, earthenware iron or wood. Herbs would have hung from the ceiling too. The cleaning of dishes, pots and pans would usually have been done in a separate room. There would have been a pantry for storing food, especially food that might spoil quickly. Wine and beer was stored in the buttery (not dairy products! butt = barrel) and was under the care of the Butler.

6 comments:

  1. Some pictures and a beautiful kitchen! Thanks for the information you offer on old kitchen! Everything is fantastic!

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  2. Sometimes I wish I had done a basement level on Merriman Park, as you did with your beautiful house, Andy, so I could have a kitchen. Oh, well..maybe next house!

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  3. Thank you sooo much Andy, you are very thoughtful and such a wealth of knowledge.

    They are very inspiring images, I am taking note of the floor, I have been thinking a stone floor but I see in one of the images it is a timber floor.

    Thank you again. Hugs Fi

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  4. Pedrete gracias, espero que la información es útil!

    Thanks Pedrete, I hope the information is useful!

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  5. To be honest John, kitchens were only usually in the basements of teraced houses in towns and cities in Britain, country houses were more likely to have a kitchen in a wing or pavillion to the side of the house, a throwback to tudor manors, kept separately from the main house because of the fire risks, as well as the smells and noise of a kitchen. So you could always design some pavillions at either end of Merriman Park at a later stage!

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  6. Glad the pictures have been useful Fi, not sure which type of flooring would look best, you could try a sample of each to see which you prefer.

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