Whilst sorting an clearing out the old pantry, in an attempt to make it a usable space for assembling flower arrangements for our events, I came across yet another stash of dusty, chipped earthen ware jars. The discovery reminded me that this room would have once had shelves brimming with pickled and preserved vegetables and fruits, able to sustain the family through the sparse months of late winter and early spring.

In order to find out more, I reached for the extremely useful guide to life bellow stairs during the Regency period - The Complete Servant by Samuel & Sarah Adams (first published in 1825).

At this time the Burnett's were still prosperous and the extensive estate allowed John Burnett, 5th of Kemnay, to extend the house, add a plumbing system and refurbish much of the interior.