The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-07-27
THE KINGS KITCHEN.
Ii Contains Plates Valued at s1,sOO,-
600, and Thousands OF Utensils.
London Tit Bits

London Tit Bits.
1t is doubtful il there is any kitchen in
the world so teeming with romance as the
Kings kitchen at Windsor, for I'm addi-
ton TO the great historical interest at
teched TO IL, inasmuch IL has been in
existence for upward OF seven centuries, il
Is Veritable treasure-house of gold.
The royal kitchen is a room OF consider
able size, much larger. in fact than the
kitchens Of many OF the leading London
restaurants, for some hundreds OF meals
nave to be prepared there every day. Ii is
fitted up with black oak throughout for
which George III was responsible. he hav-
ing expended &lO.eO In this direction
alone But besides the kitchen proper
there are the confectionery room, the
pastry room, and the bakehouse, in each
or which separate staff is employed
The clerk of the kitchen. who retoices I'm
a salary Of G7o0 a year, is responsible for
the conduct OF these departments, and he
mas TO deal with all the tradesmen who
supply the royal household But the po-
tentate OF the kitchen is the chef. who
also receives 600 a year and under him
are four master cooks each OF whom has
the control OF a small army OF assistants:
while the confectionery department is
ruled by two yeomen with salaries OF $500
and ESQ respectively.
Such thing IS unpunctualitv is unknown
in the Kings kitchen. Six separate sets
OF meals are served Up daily and for one TO
be late would throw the household into dis
order. Neither is waste allowed in any
form; the most rigid economy is practiced
and such food remains unconsumed is
distributed among the poor, who apply at
the castle gates every day.
The Kings kitchen hides something like
92,OOO In copper and iron utensils and eI.-
100000 in plate. Among the former should
be mentioned the enormous meat screen OF
solid oak lined with metal, which Is nearly
500 years old and bears the imperial badge
OF the House Of Tudor-the pOrtcullis and
arms. ConnOisseurs have sighed I'm vain
for this meat screen, for its worth is ines
Unable. Then there are 1000 knives Zoo
forks, and as many spoons used for cooking
and Kitchen purposes, which do not include
the 5000 forks and spoons OF massive silver
for use at the royal table. There are 500
pots and pans, mostly OF copper. and FIVE
brightly FURNISHED.
Not far away are the plate rooms. two
in number which. although they measure
only thirteen feet by sixteen feet. hold
treasures eighteen tons OF sOvereigns would
not buy. The walls consist Of concrete
three feet six inches in thickness and de-
tectiVes are on duty guarding the rooms
day and night. The most valuable item in
the storehOuse is, of course, the famous
service, consisting OF plates dishes tureens
epergnes and candelabra, all OF solid gold
Whlch were made by ROundelle and Bridges
for George ". This service is used only on
state occasions and viii probably be brought
out for the coronation banquet. Equally
famous Is the EmperOr's service Of silver
gilt, the worth of which may be vaguely
CLEANED from the fact that each plate
weighs stone and the epergnets two hun
dredweight apiece.
Some Of the dishes and other articles
could not be bought for thrice their weight
in SOvereigns on account OF the historical
interest with which they are associated
There is one gold dish OF surprising love-
iness which is supposed TO have been used
by Alexander the Great before the battle
OF Hydaspes, and for upward OF six cen
turtles IL has reposed at Windsor Another
much valued piece OF plate is the silver
gilt hagon, three feet in height. which was
recovered from armada wreck three
centuries ago, while there is also table
Of solid silver, the surface Of which meas
nine feet square and is engraved with
the four erblems of Great Britain.
But perhaps one OF the most cherished
relics in the Kings pantry is the golden
ca gle which was taken from Tippoo Sa-
hibs throne 1t is Of solid gold through
out the feather tips being pointed with
priceless diamonds and rubies. while the
beak is carved from fiawless emeIald.