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Christmas Fare at Parlington Hall

From the Barwicker No. 88
December 2007



Christmas is a lovely time of year when, as well as celebrating the birth of Christ, we can see family and friends in relaxing surroundings. It is only as January approaches that we probably begin to consider the cost.

Looking through the Housekeeper’s accounts at Parlington Hall which are stored in the West Yorkshire Archives at Sheepscar, it was not the cost of the festivities which surprised me but the volume of food which was consumed.

From 16 to 30 December 1850
Item Quantity Cost/item
£.s.d		 Total Cost
£.s.d
Beef and veal
Sheep 		654 lbs
297 lbs		 - £6-11-1
Turkeys 3 15/-
Fowls 8 10/-
Hams - 12/-
Eggs 12 score 12 score (i.e. 240) 12/-
Sub Total £2 9s. 0d
Hare - 2/6
Pheasants 5 15/0
Other payments
Butcher’s book £15-1-1
Grocer’s book £4-17-6
Fish book - £1-10-0
Farm meat - £6-11-1
Game - 17/6
Poultry - £2-9-0
Total £31-6-2


Number of persons dining over this period
  • Parlour 57
  • Servant’s hall 416
  • Visitors 154
    		•


    In 1858 during the period 15 Dec - 31 Dec as well as the usual beef, veal, mutton, bacon, hams, turkeys, ducks and fowls consumed the following were also listed and their cost.

  • hares 8/-d
  • pheasants 12/-d
  • partridge 2/-d
  • woodcock 2/-d
  • plover 2s 6d
  • pigeons 1/-d
  • wild duck 2s 6d
    		•
    No quantities were stated for the above.

    Other payments were made as follows:

    Supplier £ s d
    Butcher 20 8 6
    Wilkinson - 12 7
    Fishmonger 1 2 0
    Poultry yard 1 13 0
    Game 1 10 0
    Total 25 6 11


    Number of persons dining over this period
    • Parlour 88
    • Servants hall 391
    • Visitors 41
    There would also be a vast number of vegetables, desserts etc. which were not listed in the accounts.

    PAULINE ROBSON


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