Historical Soc open over the holidays
History Notes
This week we have the markets to look forward to – our first markets for a while so do call in and see what is on offer and perhaps sit at the tables and chairs on the patio and have a chat. Hopefully we will have enough members to be able to open the museum from about 10 o’clock.
During the holidays and January the museum will be open on the usual days and we are always ready to open up when requested. Local history books are on display and ready for sale in the museum.
The Christmas decorations are starting to spring up over the town and there are a few at country mail boxes in the district – most people will have seen the one just to the north of town in other years but this year there are more if one takes a drive around the district.
As it is Christmas I have been able to find an article in a history book about Chrisman in the 17th Century at a large country estate in Hertfordshire. The article was recorded in The London News just under 100 years ago but the actual Christmas was in 1628 when the head of the household was in failing health and confined to his chamber and several members of the family were absent for various reasons.
The steward of the household kept a book in which he entered the names of everyone for whom he had to provide meals together with a reference to the menu. It is from this book, which may or may not still exist, that we find some of the details.
Apart from the usual beef, mutton, pork and veal there were venison pasties, neat’s’ tongues, woodcock, hare, rabbit, capon, salt “salmon” and mince pies. There is no mention of vegetables or salads or drinks as home brewed beer was common in such households and there was probably wine on this special occasion.
The normal household numbered between 35 and 45 persons but on Christmas Day the steward had to provide about 323 meals although the paper records just two sons and their guest, the Rector, dining in the Great Chamber. There was just one other item of note, the husband of the granddaughter of the head of the household had contributed a swan to the larder – a great delicacy!
As we celebrate Christmas lunch just be thankful that we do not have to cater for 300 persons, or for that matter cook a swan!
Merry Christmas to all our readers.