Kitchen

Haddon Hall has a fine example of a surviving Tudor kitchen:

Built in the 14th century, the Kitchen comprises a purely utilitarian set of rooms which originally stood apart from the other buildings to minimise the risk of fire spreading to the main house. The passageway linking the kitchen to the hall is thus a much later addition. *

Looking towards the Milk Larder

The Milk Larder now houses a fine display of ‘dole’ cupboards:

These were put outside houses such as Haddon for passing traders or Estate workers, and filled with food and leftovers from the kitchen. Made in the Gothic style, this collection is very rare as these wooden cupboards were left outside and exposed to the elements. Some are originally from Haddon and others bought by the 9th Duke. The modern phrase ‘on the dole’ (receiving assistance), stems from the purpose of the ‘dole’ cupboard.*

Dole Chests

The oak block, stands on three short legs and was doubtless used for jointing meat in preparation for salting or for catching drops from hanging meat. *

The Oak Block

Preparation Area

*From the Haddon Hall guidebook

24 Comments CherryPie on Aug 13th 2018

24 Responses to “Haddon Hall – The Kitchen”

  1. I bet it was hot and sweety in the kitchen.

    • CherryPie says:

      You can’t see it very well in the photograph but there is a large depression in the at the far end of the work surface on the right of the photograph. The most favoured place for food preparation.

  2. >stems from the purpose of the ‘dole’ cupboard.*

    Oh I see! Now you have to explain to us why are Welsh dressers Welsh? ;)

  3. ....peter:) says:

    this is a wonderful presentation of the Tudor kitchen Cherie… i found it most interesting….peter:)

  4. Ginnie says:

    I absolutely LOVE Tudor architecture, Cherry. How delightful.

  5. Alan says:

    Haddon Hall is one of those places that I’ve walks want to go t but I’ve never yet have found it open (but then I’m usually in Derbyshire during the winter). I can just imagine the feasts being prepared in the kitchen.

    • CherryPie says:

      It opens towards the end of March and is open daily until the end of September. In October it is open for long weekends. It is also open in December up until 23rd.

      It is well worth a visit if you are ever there at the right time of year.

  6. lisl says:

    A friend of mine picked up a dole cupboard in a charity shop!

  7. Astrid says:

    Oh Cherry, all the wood, what a delight and what wonderful “cabinets” (chests) made of wood. The whole interior is fabulous. hard for me not to touch the wood if I were there, I always have to feel it……(I know, for the rest I am quite normal)

  8. Of course they had to to minimise the risk of fire, spreading from the cooking site (i.e kitchen where staff worked) to the main house where family people lived. And I can also understand why dole cupboards were put outside the house, for traders or workers. But even in a wide open kitchen like Haddon Hall, the risks and discomforts for workers must have been constant.

    • CherryPie says:

      You can’t see it very well from my photographs but one area of the work surface is worn down due to food being prepared in that area the most.

  9. Ayush says:

    it always becomes much more interesting when the reason is known why the people then did a certain thing in a specific way, CP. Such choices illuminate a lot.

  10. The Yum List says:

    We really shouldn’t complain a single bit about life now when we consider what life was like back then.

  11. Shabana says:

    Haddon hall looks stii so nice !
    I always feel fascinated by wooden work which makes me feel close to nature little more

    Preserving such priceless parts of history is a blessing!

  12. Lotta says:

    What a beautiful place Cherie.