Quite a few of them are thick, handwritten tomes. The earliest dates from 1840 - the year Queen Victoria married Prince Albert. The handwritten books often show several different hands as the books were passed through different generations, or perhaps the family cook retired and another took her place. Mystery women, to whom I am so very grateful.
Tucked in amongst them is the recipe book begun by my mother with occasional additions by me. I cherish this one most of all.
How did I come by all these lovely books? I just happened to be in an auction house for the purpose of bidding on something entirely different when the first one in my collection came up for sale. It cost me the princely sum of £30.00. After that, I kept my eyes open for others.
I hope you will join me as I trawl through these old treasures and the delights they have to offer.
Old recipes, household medicines and remedies, cleaning products, wines, beers, yeast recipes, knitting patterns and household routines are some of the many topics covered.
Tucked into one of them were notes for the Cook and the housemaid, detailing their duties for each day of the week...and goodness, were they expected to cram a lot in!
More next time.
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