English Recipe Book, late 18th/early 19th century

Collection of medical, household and culinary recipes in several late 18th or early 19th century hands. The former have been entered from the front of the volume, the latter from the rear, each section with its own list of contents. The outside dates recorded against the recipes are 1777 and 1810. Medical authorities mentioned include Dr Ash [either John Ash MD, 1723-1798, or his nephew Edward Ash MD, d.1829], ff. 6, 22, 26, 33-34, 100v, 129v; Dr Frewin, f. 9; Dr Holyoake [either Francis Holyoake, fl. 1712-1760, apothecary-surgeon of Henley-in-Arden, or John Holyoake MD, fl. 1730-1780, of Warwick], f. 9; Dr 'Brarkaves', f. 9; Dr Wilmot, f. 15; Dr Ford, f. 16; Dr Addington, f. 20; Sir Richard Jebb [Sir Richard Jebb Bt, MD, d. 1787]; Sir Walter 'Farquer' [Sir Walter Farquhar Bt, MD, d. 1819], f. 38; Dr Barry [of] Bath, f. 39; Dr Babington, f. 42v; and Dr 'Warncors', f. 43v. With a 'copy of a letter from the Revd Doctor Bateman to the Revd Mr Reynold, describing some extraordinary cures performed by the use of Clivers (otherwise called Goosegrass or Hayrift)', ff. 23-24. A recipe 'to male gray hair brown' ends with the note 'N.B Tuallwasser chymist in the Hay Market sells stuff for the same purpose 5s. a little bottle' , f. 26v, and on the following page there is a note that 'the best pipe clay is sold by Stora Piccadilly near Hyde Park Corner'.

c. 1777-1810

1 volume 1 volume: approx. 235 x 195 mm. 190 ff. (46-73 blank). Original numbering from both front and rear of volume is confused. Quarter-leather binding with marbled boards.

Purchased from Brian Hughes, of Corby, December 2014

There is considerable evidence of a Warwickshire connection: not only are several of the medical authorities Warwickshire-based but there are recipes ascribed to Sir Charles Shuckburgh [Sir Charles Shuckburgh 5th Bt, of Shuckburgh, Warwickshire, 1722-1773], f. 21, a Mrs Warner of Warwick, f. 79, and to Mr and Mrs Sheldon of Weston, ff. 80, 150v (and other members of the Sheldon family of Warwickshire). Another Warwickshire location mentioned is Coombe Abbey [near Rugby, seat of the Earls Craven]: a number of recipes are sourced from this place and others are ascribed to Lord and Lady Craven of Benham [presumably William Craven, 1731-1798, 6th Baron Craven, the builder of Benham Park, Berks., and his wife Elizabeth, 1750-1828], or to the Dowager Lady Craven [presumably the widow of William Craven, 1705-1769, 5th Baron Craven].

At Wellcome Collection: see the Sheldon recipe book MS.8468.