English cookery book

Collection of cookery recipes, mainly in a single early-19th century hand; with a few verses transcribed at the rear of the volume. The loose enclosures chiefly comprise contemporary culinary recipes in several hands, but include two earlier, late 17th or early 18th century medical recipes (nos. 12 and 18).

early 19th century

1 volume and 32 loose enclosures 1 volume: approx. 240 x 200 mm, 137 ff. (32-57, 60-125 blank); original pagination 1-41 and unnumbered. Paper watermarked 'Chilton Mill 1806', f. 54. Half red-leather binding, gilt, with marbled paper-covered boards. Thirty-two loose enclosures have been placed in an envelope inside the front cover. There are several pressed leaves at f. 90.

Purchased from A R Heath, July 2001

There is an ownership inscription inside the front cover by Elizabeth Katharine Staunton 'from her friend Arabella Ann Ashton July 16th 1816'. Each woman has signed her name in her own hand: the latter appears to have been responsible for copying most of the recipes, one of which (f. 29) dates from as late as 1840, so the collection seems to have been something of a joint enterprise over many years. Arabella Ashton appears to have been resident at Marston [Lincolnshire], as two of the loose recipes (nos 7 and 14) are addressed to her at that address, and one is a fragment of a printed public notice of a meeting to establish a Provisional Board of Health at nearby Bottesford, Leicestershire., in 1831 (no. 26). Elizabeth Staunton lived at Staunton Hall, Nottinghamshire, according to her address on other loose enclosures (nos 11 and 22).

Microfilm reference: AMS/MF/213.