DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.52829#0170
rately carved and enriched, and having doors or arches, over which was
the minstrels’ gallery.* At Haddon Hall, one of the most curious and per-
fect now remaining in England, there opened from this passage “ four large
doors, with high-pointed arches : the first of these still retains its ancient
door of strong oak, with a little wicket in the middle, just big enough to
put a trencher in or out, and was clearly the butler’s station, for the room
within still retains a strong chest of oak, with divisions for bread. A
passage down steps leads from this room to a large apartment, which is
arched with stone, and supported by pillars similar to the crypt of a
church. This was the beer-cellar. The second door-way is an entrance
to a long, narrow passage, leading with a continued descent to the great
kitchen, having in the mid-way a half door or hatch, with a broad shelf
on the top of it, whereon to place dishes, to which, and no farther, the
servants in waiting were to have access.! A third door-way opened to a
very small vaulted room, which Mr. King says was certainly the wine-
cellar; for when wine was considered merely a cordial or dram, the
stock was not very large. The fourth great arch conducted, by a steep
staircase, to a variety of small apartments,” or lodging-rooms.
The fire was made against a reredoss in the middle of the floor, the
* During the time the yeomen of the guard were bringing the dinner to Queen Elizabeth’s
table, twelve trumpets and two kettle-drums made the hall ring for half an hour together.—
Hentzner’s Travels.
+ The servants were to receive ah the dishes at the hatch. A regulation of Sir
John Haryngton’s household was : “ That no man come to the kitchen without reasonable
cause, on paine of Id., and the cook likewise to forfeit Id. ’ When the dinner was ready, the
cook summoned the serving-men to carry it to the table by knocking with his knife on the
dresser. One of the duties of the Usher of the Hall was to “ warn to the dresser.”
“ When the dresser, the cook’s drum, thunders, come on,”
says Beaufort’s steward in Massinger’s Unnatural Combat.
the minstrels’ gallery.* At Haddon Hall, one of the most curious and per-
fect now remaining in England, there opened from this passage “ four large
doors, with high-pointed arches : the first of these still retains its ancient
door of strong oak, with a little wicket in the middle, just big enough to
put a trencher in or out, and was clearly the butler’s station, for the room
within still retains a strong chest of oak, with divisions for bread. A
passage down steps leads from this room to a large apartment, which is
arched with stone, and supported by pillars similar to the crypt of a
church. This was the beer-cellar. The second door-way is an entrance
to a long, narrow passage, leading with a continued descent to the great
kitchen, having in the mid-way a half door or hatch, with a broad shelf
on the top of it, whereon to place dishes, to which, and no farther, the
servants in waiting were to have access.! A third door-way opened to a
very small vaulted room, which Mr. King says was certainly the wine-
cellar; for when wine was considered merely a cordial or dram, the
stock was not very large. The fourth great arch conducted, by a steep
staircase, to a variety of small apartments,” or lodging-rooms.
The fire was made against a reredoss in the middle of the floor, the
* During the time the yeomen of the guard were bringing the dinner to Queen Elizabeth’s
table, twelve trumpets and two kettle-drums made the hall ring for half an hour together.—
Hentzner’s Travels.
+ The servants were to receive ah the dishes at the hatch. A regulation of Sir
John Haryngton’s household was : “ That no man come to the kitchen without reasonable
cause, on paine of Id., and the cook likewise to forfeit Id. ’ When the dinner was ready, the
cook summoned the serving-men to carry it to the table by knocking with his knife on the
dresser. One of the duties of the Usher of the Hall was to “ warn to the dresser.”
“ When the dresser, the cook’s drum, thunders, come on,”
says Beaufort’s steward in Massinger’s Unnatural Combat.