Explore Fairfax: Kitchen
Passing into the kitchen, the room is a hive of activity, in preparation for Christmas time. The window panes are decorated with sprigs of Holly and a ''Kissing Bough'', a North Country tradition, hangs (out of sight) from the ceiling.
Dishes ready for the table are placed on the white draw-cloth whilst others, like the Peacock Pie require a final decorative flourish.
On the Kitchen Dresser is a mobile beer trolley with horn beakers and a leather 'beer-jack'. Also a pair of glass smoothing irons, used to put the shine on linen damask napkins and tablecloths.
Between the windows, on the oval tray, is an eighteenth century Georgian Coffee Mill and pots for hot chocolate.
The original kitchen had been demolished to make way for the cinema and this restoration relates to evidence in the household accounts. The ‘smoak jack spit’, for example, driven by hot air rising from the fire and turning a fan in the chimney, is similar to the one the family had in 1762. It was always breaking down and the blacksmith called out on a weekly basis to sort it out.
The housekeeper’s book and invoices from local suppliers tell us the day to day living of the family and the food on display reflects the varied diet of lord Fairfax and his daughter Anne.
On the Kitchen Dresser is a mobile beer trolley with horn beakers and a leather 'beer-jack'. Also a pair of glass smoothing irons, used to put the shine on linen damask napkins and tablecloths.
Between the windows, on the oval tray, is an eighteenth century Georgian Coffee Mill and pots for hot chocolate.
The original kitchen had been demolished to make way for the cinema and this restoration relates to evidence in the household accounts. The ‘smoak jack spit’, for example, driven by hot air rising from the fire and turning a fan in the chimney, is similar to the one the family had in 1762. It was always breaking down and the blacksmith called out on a weekly basis to sort it out.
The housekeeper’s book and invoices from local suppliers tell us the day to day living of the family and the food on display reflects the varied diet of lord Fairfax and his daughter Anne.
MORE ABOUT the Kitchen
Georgian Coffee Mill
Prior to about 1780, is was necessary to roast your own coffee beans in front of the fire in a rotating cylinder and then mill them in grinders like this one.
Category: Miscellaneous
Kitchen Dresser
Laden with chargers, dishes and plates used in the service of food.
Category: Furniture
Linen Press
A linen press, walnut, oak, English, circa 1690
Category: Miscellaneous
Peacock Pie
These birds were reared on the country estate at Gilling Castle, 20 miles north of York and the 'odd man', Mathew Robinson, came over from Gilling twice a month 'with the basket', laden with produce from the park and garden.
Category: Miscellaneous
Georgian Coffee MillPrior to about 1780, is was necessary to roast your own coffee beans in front of the fire in a rotating cylinder and then mill them in grinders like this one.
Category: Miscellaneous
Kitchen DresserLaden with chargers, dishes and plates used in the service of food.
Category: Furniture
Linen PressA linen press, walnut, oak, English, circa 1690
Category: Miscellaneous
Peacock PieThese birds were reared on the country estate at Gilling Castle, 20 miles north of York and the 'odd man', Mathew Robinson, came over from Gilling twice a month 'with the basket', laden with produce from the park and garden.
Category: Miscellaneous