New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-09-11
WESTMINSTER ABBEY'S KITCHEN
RECENT DISCOVERY OF PARTS OF THE RE
FECTORY HOW AN hBBEY'S KITCHEN
WAS ORDERED

"
From The Sketch.
DO YOU know that Westminster Abbey was
equipped with a Kitchen II has long been the
attitude OF the Church to regard the flesh az
wicked: but In the good old days the merry
monks attached TO ne Monastery Uf st. Peter.
Westminster ''iovcdc Vencrye' as dearly as the
/ gorgeous prciate who accompanied Chaucers
pilgrim band 10 Canterbury. The suppression
OF the monastery III 1910 put an end To all the
delights Of dining, but the days OF yesteryear
are brought up to mind by the discovery OF u
blOcked-up doorway.
If you cross Deans Yard you will notice this
discovery At the southwest corner Of the Clois-
ters through which the Abbey masons Will be
/ Thomas Wright Clcrk az the Works. 1t is the
entrance 10 the ruins Of the old refeciory which
ran along the whole side Of the South Cloister.
Beyond that and nearly half It's length was the
kitchen. the two apartments communicating by
the buttery hatch now blocked up rs shown.
The cook or "kitchcncr" with the aid 81 as
sstantS. prepared The food 10 hc served in the
refcctOry to HI Prior and guests according To
the status al the high table. and 20 the rank
and Tile OF the monks Ut the tahles along he hall
hui his Importance was e4uHl'd II not tN-
ceeded, rs that Of the C-llaftr who had the
cara Of mo beer ana wine. and also of the bread
ana provisions. stored in chambers running
along She east side OF Deans Yard. close % inc
Kitchen. II would sr"n that tn ch''iner. mar
below ground which Canon Wilb,rforce d!s-
covered when he f9)k mp ms rcs'i'rrn ~ Dean
Yard and which he has converted mo has an
lng-rpnpl was IN no DAYS ~ ID" monastery,
one ~ these places of Storare Subordinate 10
In, .olI,r,- W., -...rai other posts connect 81
Win the coulnussariat Tie baker having ob-
tAircd the Hour from tho Ahbry mia built on
part Of the central green ~ Deans Yard had
only 90 take 1t a few yards on o. he bakery.
In tho same block - buildi0re was ih" brew
f,us- also managed hs r0or ks. Then the
monks Hith 4 taste for gardening cultivated the
herbs aud vegetables anu looked afier the ABB
hey orchard. which hAS given If5 nam" to
Orcharl-si Westminster The laying q the
table in The dining han wac under th" charg" Of
The "Rofcctorian." Lastly. A. the md u meal.
the ,.iuorcr mad his work cut r'ady 10 hand
for ala the broken. uneat"n NictuaS hAd 10 be
taken 10 the AlroUTy the precise position on
which was probably IN thr angle formed ~
Victora-st. and Great Smith-st thrre 10 he
distributed 20 thc numerous poor gathered 10
getNer in the neigh DGrhpod
The Abbey kitchen ~ds superior % me k'irh-
ens OF our Own ;irc 10 being l"'e. win ,hr
dining hall. SO thI; tine diners "tr" readily
served WIN ho. food ~ such ki' ..u, about
The fu .ffih or thirteenth century. thor" would
be the equivalent ~ 'ur dresser fnr ih' pIttt"ia
and .hl-g,rr TIC wood fire. 900 tn' tIDr would
require. occasional en.1ur lrrfa-ut 90 m The lel-
lows or bItf.-u1g AS cr rg.h ir" boiling
would Dee easier than ro1s'ins j. Wound he n"rts-
sary % have on" n more c1dr'us either i'
stand upon ATS three legs "r ID Do huh- .i''4 d"
rrirnd while n r .sh-houk ard Tot.s-f-h would
be In close proximity. Eut plentiful. us" Vas
also mad" NJ the r'n7tlnr-ir2u which was nor
unlike tho Iaol.rn gr.IlfOu.
The kitchener had enough 60 - - r-"p1r-
the two chief :eIis - thc day M'hr"i4' r.
treatments hy th" wy would ID. passed. '-li''h'
the lutt"ry natlu. just as io-da. ii s'n'' ".4
colleges rcfr-- h-I.rrte are served D.. That f-
called the tgttrgy. Meat was supf' .'t i' h'
l.eof."d f.r tha young the aged dui ih' .'ir
firm nm .uGul@.rt superior h'N't-'. "uI.+
not 3" harsh Iu defining fI.n iiI RI i'ul l.i'i
was no rcrfr. riior IN regard 90 Ih' -H "ii ID
I ne monks ucf'rr COOKING. hai iiHi Pop ''''"
h. th" Thau"e unless. Indeed 81 '"'th' ~ .ii.
Some 1ullglrg es..i. brought hr Irnt in E'ni
such a. G.h. the hifD.rn va always ""ii ii'-
,..qi,rod With salmon ON tnu day .n t'' 'raf
sf.tt. ..f az 4