©National Trust/Robert Thrift
The other day I featured the Chinese porcelain bowl at Nostell Priory, West Yorkshire, that was used to serve punch. The vessels employed in the kitchen at Nostell are also rather impressive, although in a more robust, down to earth way.
©National Trust/Robert Thrift
In 2007 a group of copper pots and pans from the kitchen at Nostell was accepted by the Government in lieu of inheritance tax and allocated to the National Trust. This so-called batterie de cuisine can tell us all sorts of things about country house cooking practices in the nineteenth century.
©National Trust/Robert Thrift
The pans are engraved with the monogram of the Winn family, Barons St Oswald. Nostell was transferred to the National Trust in 1953, but it is still the home of the present Lord and Lady St Oswald.
©NTPL/John Hammond
Other historic houses have similar sets of implements, although each kitchen is different. The Great Kitchen at Saltram, in Devon, was built in the 1770s, but the range was added in 1885.
©NTPL/Andreas von Einsiedel
The kitchen at Petworth House, West Sussex, includes a warming cupboard with nifty sliding doors.
©NTPL/Andreas von Einsiedel
There is also a high-tech steam bain-marie at Petworth, made by Jeakes & Co. in about 1870. I could easily picture this in a Japanese steampunk anime film.
June 4, 2010 at 21:26 |
How gorgeous are these pots-not to mention the kitchens. pgt
June 4, 2010 at 21:39 |
Yes, one could call this the beauty of usefulness, I suppose
June 7, 2010 at 15:49 |
To bad they don’t make pans like this anymore. It would be sweet to be able to cook with these babies.
June 9, 2010 at 11:52 |
This is fascinating. I’m so drawn to copper pots but had not thought much about kitchen-related items going to the NT. Beautiful.
June 9, 2010 at 13:41 |
Indeed Courtney, fortunately the Acceptance in Lieu Panel recognise the historical importance of things like kitchen implements as part of the ‘machinery’ of country house life.