The great kitchen was probably constructed by Bishop Henry between 1141 and 1154, using stone from the recently demolished royal palace of Winchester, which once stood next to the cathedral.
From the outside this building appears to be a great tower. The walls are in fact very thin - it seems that the building was always intended to serve as a kitchen. It was probably part of Henry's attempt to reassert his position after the civil war.
The kitchens were used to prepare the large meals required to feed the bishop's household. High ceilings helped evacuate the heat and smell. Adjacent to the kitchen was a serving room, where final preparations were made to dishes before being taken through to the east hall.
The east hall was used throughout the medieval period for state occasions. In February 1403, the wedding feast of King Henry IV and Joan of Navarre was prepared in these kitchens. It included cygnets, venison, rabbits, partridges, woodcock, plover, quail, snipe, roast kid, custards, fritters, cream of almonds and pears in syrup.
Disclaimer
The text and pictures on this page are derived from the 'Heritage Unlocked' series of guidebooks published in 2004. We intend to review, update and enhance the content in the near future as part of the Portico project, whose objective is to provide information on the history, significance, research background and sources for all English Heritage properties.
