Food for Thought

This exhibition gives us a chance to remember times when meals were dependant on what food was in season; A time before the luxuries of today's process food, fridges and freezers. Food for Thought uses the link between the publishing in 1861 of the most famous cookery book, Mrs Beeton's Household Management, and the paintings of the Victorian artist Richard Ansdell to explore this theme. Mrs Beeton's cook book was published in 1861. It sold over 60,000 copies in its first year of publication and nearly two million by 1868. It led to an explosion of interest in cookery and the invention of new equipment in Victorian kitchens, including a locally designed 'automatic' apple corer. Visitors to the exhibition will also find recipes cards to take away and try at home.