Many of you may remember my outrage at the misuse of the word 'Vaulted' in certain TV 'country homes' programmes; well I become equally annoyed by the throw-away use of the word 'Inglenook'.
Nowadays any fireplace wider than about three feet, and with a wooden lintel, is called an 'Inglenook' by the TV presenting ignorati; and it really makes me angry.
Basically, an Inglenook is a kitchen, where the cooking was done over an open central fire. It often contained a small bread oven built into the back wall. They were tall and wide, so as to accommodate people, wood, and cooking equipment.
Our own example (above) once had two small benches either side (as below), for the residents to benefit from the warmth, as well as for stirring the pot.
This small version (above) is almost NOT an Inglenook; it is quite small, but it gives an idea of how they were used.
Every time I hear some TV presenter calling a small fireplace an 'Inglenook' (and it happens frequently), I feel like stringing him up from his non-existent bloody vaulted ceiling.
I seem to remember seeing a modern bungalow called Inglenook. At least it was written on the gate.
ReplyDeleteI suppose that's one better than 'Cosy Nook'.
DeleteAs long as Bok is enjoying the warmth,who cars...
ReplyDeleteHe certainly is too; as am I. Perfect weather for long walks.
DeleteInteresting. I knew nothing about them. The word rang a bell and I thought it was a place name here, but no, however it is used a street name.
ReplyDeleteInglenook Avenue? Doesn't sound right to me, but you Aussies do like your double O's.
DeleteAnother new word I've learnt today.
ReplyDeleteThe first thing I looked for in your picture was for the chestnut pan.
Greetings Maria x
Did you find it? It's hanging on the wall on the left hand side!
DeleteYes I did; it was the first I found.
Deletex
The British tv presenters do it the same wherever they are; even a pokey little fireplace the width of a log in a Spanish villa I have heard described: " a lovely inglenook fireplace" followed by ohs and ahs.
ReplyDeleteAnd they pretend to be experts. A cheap suit, a desire to make money, and the gift of the gab, and you're an Estate Agent.
DeleteSince you pointed out 'vaulted ceilings' i keep on hearing about them over and over, now it will be 'inglenook' that's jumping out. They certainly do overuse that 'vaulted' word.
ReplyDeleteI do literally SCREAM when I hear it used wrongly. It really isn't that difficult.
DeleteI wish these these programmes would do their research. They should know what an inglenook fireplace is. When we sold our 17th century cottage, the estate agents blurb called it ‘ cottage style ‘ ..... what does that mean ..... it WAS a cottage !!! Also, when people buy a period property, I think they should be made to take a test !!!!! I noticed our cottage up for sale a few years ago and all of the original latch doors had been removed and cheap pine ones put in their place and one of the original beamed walls had been wallpapered !!!!! Arghhhhhhhh !!!!! XXXX
ReplyDeleteExactly! A friend of ours owned the village chateau, and sold it to an Italian 'wide-boy'. He stripped out all the panelling, all the old doors, several ancient fireplaces, etc. I believe they all went to Japan. The present owner has spent many years trying to put everything back again 'roughly' as it would have been. Some people should be shot!
DeleteI used to own a house built in 1750..a huge fireplace , massive oak beam across and in the "nook" you could stand up and it had three foot of space each side of the Rayburn...and a bread oven built into the wall at one end. Sad to leave my home,garden, orchard smallholding. But I've gained a lot by leaving it behind,good and bad
ReplyDeleteNow that sounds like a pukka Inglenook; half kitchen, half winter quarters. Perfect.
Deleteit was..huge slates on the floor, four feet by two and inches thick..they were lifted and dpc and insulation laid before they were replaced..no underfloor heating needed. The walls were nearly two feet thick. I could have stayed there forever,but circumstances didn't allow
Deleteat the farm, my grandparents had a larger version of the one in black and white. with multiple arms that swung out and also raised up and down. there was also a big stick that you could push through a piece of meat and it had chains and you pulled the chains and the stick rotated, ye olde rotisserie. The whole of it and a range type oven that was used for bread and drying clothes were salvaged from the manor house, who updated and put an all singing all dancing kitchen in with a proper range cooker and shock horror lighting! I think the manor house paid my great grandparents to take it away, my grandfather used to boast that, he loved something free. I dont know if it is still there as the farm was sold. if not I hope they gave it to a museum. the bread oven cooked the perfect loaf.
ReplyDeleteOur chimney just has adjustable chains with hooks for the cooking side of the business, and no bread oven. But there are big outdoor bread ovens all around, and I believe each household took it in turns to fire-up (once a week). If there were four ovens in your hamlet, you only had to fire-up once a month... a very good system.
DeleteWhen I sold my people's house in Shropshire I quite expect the idiots who bought it pulled out the old Aga; they pulled out a 44 tree orchard, so they were capable of anything.
why would you pull out an orchard? OMG that is awful
DeleteFilled with very rare varieties too. I think they needed the area for his helicopter. I wouldn't have sold the house to them had I known what plans they had!
DeleteGreat word, inglenook, but hadn't realised it was overused on the telly. Only ever seen something like the bona fide in the flesh once and it was in a very rustic farmhouse in Umbria. Open fire only, can't remember if there was a bread oven, but it was more than 2 metres high and maybe 4m or more wide. A huge Great Dane dozed inside it as dinner was cooked over the fire by our hostess. 20+ years ago but remember the meal: grilled plate-sized porcini from the property followed by bistecca fiorentina. All rather Land of the Giants as everything was so oversized.
ReplyDeleteI'm afraid we replaced the open fire for practical purposes. The wood burner can be lit, closed-up, and left for the morning. With the fire that wasn't possible. My village is renowned for its Porcini (cepes); I can hardly wait for the new season to start!!!
DeleteLucky you! I have a little addendum to this porcini reminiscence but I'll save it for when your season is in full swing!
DeleteNames aren’t as important as the warmth that it gives on a cold, damp morning.
ReplyDeleteMaybe not, but so-called experts should know what they're talking about.
DeleteYou can't beat a cosy inglenook on a winter's day.
ReplyDeleteI'm tempted to take out the wood burner, and return it to its original state. I'm sure we could easily heat the room with alternatives when required. I loved that old open fire with its metre length logs.
DeleteCro, LIGHTEN UP! Just kidding. Never heard of an inglenook until today. I love the pictures you shared. I have similar issues with idiots misusing and misspelling words. And don't even get me started on bad grammar! I had to divorce myself from Facebook because it drove me insane. My family called me the Facebook grammar police. I was a Legal Secretary for 15 years and it ruined me for mistakes. None were allowed, period! Hope you have a wonderful week. xo
ReplyDeleteMy problem is that I'm easily upset when it comes to so-called experts and their misuse of words.
DeleteApparently I've never seen or heard of an inglenook... until today. Have to admit it looks strange to have people sitting 'inside' the fireplace (but maybe that's because it isn't a fireplace, but an inglenook). We do have an Aga! Fell in love with them about 15 years ago and went out and bought one. We love it!... especially in winter... keeps the kitchen toasty warm! Not too many of them here in Texas.
ReplyDeleteOur Aga was fired with coal; small round egg-shaped lumps. During the great 1980's miners strike the supply dried-up, and they had to import some rubbish from Poland. It completely ruined the Aga.
DeleteStrangely I get the same violent feeling when I hear a presenter say Trump.
ReplyDeleteHa ha. I think you're not alone.
DeleteMy wife's father's house had a huge oak panelled inglenook in the drawing room which was a major feature in the room (obviously). I confess to never having heard the random references to which you refer. Perhaps I just don't notice.
ReplyDeleteI suspect you don't watch those rubbish 'homes in the countryside' TV programmes.
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