Castle Kitchen

The kitchen dates from 1805 and allows the visitor an insight into the lives of persons both above and below stairs.  There are hands on activities for both the young and the old.

It was formed from part of a 16th century outbuilding and joined to the main building when William Atkinson built the south front in the early 1800s. It features original bread ovens and a roasting spit, driven by a smoke jack, as well as a retractable stair that leads to a smoking loft which was used for hanging up bacon and ham to dry after curing in salt.

The open hearth was later replaced by a range which was however removed c. 1930. The Victorian Gradient range that is now found in the kitchen was installed in 1989. It is in working order but no longer used for cooking, as food spillage would damage the porous cast iron.