Note 14 — HADDON HALL, DERBYSHIRE.
Reading edition
The subjoined particulars respecting one of these open-house occasions, in 1663, are curious and interesting. They are extracted from the bailiff’s accounts of the time of John, eighth earl, who died here in 1679:—
£.s.d.
“Paid George Wood, the cook, for helping in the pastry all Christmas300
Paid Robert Swindell, for helping at the like work all Christmas, and two weeks150
Paid William Green, the cook, for helping in the kitchen all Christmas100
Paid Antony Higton, turnspit, for helping all Christmas030
Paid W. Creswick, for pulling fowls and poultry all Christmas036
Paid Catherine Sprig, for helping the scullery-maid all Christmas030
Paid Thomas Shaw, the piper, for piping all Christmas200
Given by my honourable Lord and Lady’s command to Thomas Shaw’s man0100
Given by their honours’ commands to Richard Blackwell, the dancer0100
Given by their honours’ commands to Ottiwell Bramwell, the dancer0100
Given by their honours’ commands to Ottiwell Bramwell’s kinswoman, for dancing050
About this time, from 1660 to 1670, although the family resided chiefly at Belvoir, there were generally killed and consumed every year, at Haddon, between 30 and 40 beeves, between 400 and 500 sheep, and 8 or 10 swine.”