9.30am to 5pm

Course Content

A two day course, which studies life below stairs in the large households of the 16th to 20th centuries.

Day One: Wednesday 11 July 2012
A look at the 16th & 17th centuries, including

  • sources of information available including plans, household ordinances and inventories
  • the study of household management at Hampton Court
  • the study of preparing and presenting food, the role of food in emphasising status and table manners
  • a site visit to Cowdray House ruins.

Day Two: Thursday 12 July 2012
Looking at the 18th to 20th centuries including:

  • the increasing complexity of the organisation of the household staff
  • the development of the Country House Plan, including the function of each room, male and female departments and the analysis of plans for surviving buildings
  • the developments in water supplies, bakehouses, kitchen ranges, ovens etc
  • the changes in preparation and presentation of food, the use of still houses and dairies, and methods of serving food
  • A site visit to parts of Petworth House.

Fee

£150 per person, to include tuition, coffees, teas and a light lunch each day.  Students to use their own transport for the site visits, but lifts can be arranged if needed.

Tutor

Peter Brears is a food historian and historic house consultant, and has worked on prestigious projects including Uppark, Petworth House, Woburn Abbey, Chatsworth and Hampton Court Palace.  He will draw on his experience of restoring domestic environments and kitchens for presentation to the public and for educational use.

The Museum

The Weald & Downland Open Air Museum has over 45 historic building exhibits.  It is also home to the award winning and innovative Downland Gridshell, which houses a conservation workshop and artefact store, and is also used for many practical courses.  The Museum runs a full programme of courses in historic building conservation and traditional rural trades and crafts, along with MSc programmes in Building Conservation and Timber Building Conservation. Please telephone for further details.

To book, download a form here. Alternatively, fill in the booking request below.

Make a Booking Request

 
This is an initial booking request form, and does not guarantee a place on the course. The Adult Learning Team will check the availability of the course, and reply to you as soon as possible - usually within one working day.