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THE CORNISH KITCHEN

The Cornish Kitchen has always been the heart of the home. Discover life in times gone by, learn how to cook on a traditional Cornish Slab and what wash day looked like backalong!

THE CORNISH KITCHEN

Both 'Uplong' and 'Downlong' are represented here. The Parlour presents the more elaborate grandeur associated with the middle and upper classes; hence an American organ, grandfather clock, china cabinet, large family Bible, paintings adorning its papered walls and a glowing fire to add warmth whilst an oil lamp provides nighttime light. Whereas the Cornish Kitchen typical of a fishing family contains many artefacts of yesteryear. A magnificent cooking range (called a 'slab') lavishly decorated with additional brass work made by Mr Alfred Cock for his own home. These Cornish ranges had a remarkable capacity in the cooking arts; firstly they used but poor quality coal, they heated water, the rack above the hotplate aired the clothing, the hotplate was the maid of all jobs, from toasting bread, grilling meat, cooking kippers, to boiling all the necessary vegetables. The oven itself was used for baking bread and cake, and last but not least, that great standby for landsmen and seamen alike, the Cornish pasty. Around the Kitchen can be seen many items which reflect the times when everything was done entirely by hand by a wife and mother; from mangling the washing to repairing a net in between all the other chores which completely filled her day.

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