Richard Fitch
@tudorcook.bsky.social
Historic Kitchens Manager at Hampton Court Palace, he/him, experimental historian, tiresome lay-about.
All views own, yada yada yada.
No expectation of mutual following.
All views own, yada yada yada.
No expectation of mutual following.
And with that...Christmas cookery at Hampton Court was over!
All put back in the box. More public facing cookery from May, but loads of work between now and then
All put back in the box. More public facing cookery from May, but loads of work between now and then
January 4, 2026 at 8:40 PM
And with that...Christmas cookery at Hampton Court was over!
All put back in the box. More public facing cookery from May, but loads of work between now and then
All put back in the box. More public facing cookery from May, but loads of work between now and then
No progress on the mermaid today...too cold in the kitchens for bare hands and delicate painting 😟
Perhaps that's why the original confectionery was situated above the pastry department and its large ovens.
Still, more time later in the year to finish her off
Perhaps that's why the original confectionery was situated above the pastry department and its large ovens.
Still, more time later in the year to finish her off
January 4, 2026 at 3:41 PM
No progress on the mermaid today...too cold in the kitchens for bare hands and delicate painting 😟
Perhaps that's why the original confectionery was situated above the pastry department and its large ovens.
Still, more time later in the year to finish her off
Perhaps that's why the original confectionery was situated above the pastry department and its large ovens.
Still, more time later in the year to finish her off
Algorithm on point there, FFS 🧐
January 4, 2026 at 10:39 AM
Algorithm on point there, FFS 🧐
By the end of the day today, most of the colour except face, body and background has been applied.
2 days left to finish, or not. I'll find out when I'm in next on Sunday
2 days left to finish, or not. I'll find out when I'm in next on Sunday
January 2, 2026 at 5:04 PM
By the end of the day today, most of the colour except face, body and background has been applied.
2 days left to finish, or not. I'll find out when I'm in next on Sunday
2 days left to finish, or not. I'll find out when I'm in next on Sunday
More mermaid progress... Adding colour
January 2, 2026 at 12:39 PM
More mermaid progress... Adding colour
I take a day off for New Year, and the team makes a great leap forward with the marchpane mermaid...now with silver leaf.
Next step, colour!
Next step, colour!
January 2, 2026 at 11:39 AM
I take a day off for New Year, and the team makes a great leap forward with the marchpane mermaid...now with silver leaf.
Next step, colour!
Next step, colour!
So long 2025, hello 2026....Happy New Year everyone!
January 1, 2026 at 12:01 AM
So long 2025, hello 2026....Happy New Year everyone!
The marchpane mere maide is progressing. On the menu for Henry VIII for 1528, still a bit more work to get her finished....silver leaf and colour to go, and a comb obviously
December 31, 2025 at 4:53 PM
The marchpane mere maide is progressing. On the menu for Henry VIII for 1528, still a bit more work to get her finished....silver leaf and colour to go, and a comb obviously
Yesterday's Cabege Farced cut open to show the interior...which now looks like a mushroom!
December 31, 2025 at 11:14 AM
Yesterday's Cabege Farced cut open to show the interior...which now looks like a mushroom!
497 years ago today, Henry VIII attended a meal with Cardinal Wolsey and the Papal Legate Campeggio, for which this is the menu (one of the few menus for meals attended by Henry) that survive.
1/8
1/8
December 30, 2025 at 8:49 PM
497 years ago today, Henry VIII attended a meal with Cardinal Wolsey and the Papal Legate Campeggio, for which this is the menu (one of the few menus for meals attended by Henry) that survive.
1/8
1/8
Timeline cleanse!
Pull up a bench and sit by the fire for a while
Pull up a bench and sit by the fire for a while
December 30, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Timeline cleanse!
Pull up a bench and sit by the fire for a while
Pull up a bench and sit by the fire for a while
Reposted by Richard Fitch
I seem to have woken up in 1529…
December 29, 2025 at 8:49 PM
I seem to have woken up in 1529…
Reposted by Richard Fitch
Oh sandy
December 29, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Oh sandy
Turned out all right!
December 29, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Turned out all right!
Almost time for today's roast to come off the spit...we await the queue of staff with their begging bowls 😉
December 29, 2025 at 3:07 PM
Almost time for today's roast to come off the spit...we await the queue of staff with their begging bowls 😉
Progress being made on the marchpane mermaid
December 29, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Progress being made on the marchpane mermaid
The final results
Carp served with prunes
Carp served with prunes
December 28, 2025 at 3:44 PM
The final results
Carp served with prunes
Carp served with prunes
...and onto the iron in the fire
December 28, 2025 at 2:50 PM
...and onto the iron in the fire
Today's carp, stuffed, sewn and ready for the gridiron
December 28, 2025 at 2:48 PM
Today's carp, stuffed, sewn and ready for the gridiron
Today...carp on the menu.
December 28, 2025 at 1:41 PM
Today...carp on the menu.
Happy Christmas everyone, just remember, you'll get to stage 4 soon enough
December 25, 2025 at 4:37 PM
Happy Christmas everyone, just remember, you'll get to stage 4 soon enough
"BBC News - When turkeys were walked to London for Christmas"
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
When turkeys were walked to London for Christmas
Before railways and refrigeration, the birds had to make the long journey to market on foot.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 24, 2025 at 10:28 AM
"BBC News - When turkeys were walked to London for Christmas"
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Richard Fitch
Mystery as hundreds of Victorian shoes wash up on Ogmore beach
Mystery as hundreds of Victorian shoes wash up on Ogmore beach
More than 400 leather hobnailed boots, thought to date back to the 19th Century, have been found.
www.bbc.com
December 23, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Mystery as hundreds of Victorian shoes wash up on Ogmore beach