Monday 4 June 2012

State of the Art Kitchen Sink (circa 1750-ish).


This is the original kitchen sink at our cottage; most local houses have the same. No hot and cold taps, no stainless steel plug-hole, no sophisticated plumbing system to take away the used water.

There used to be a tiny 'playing-card' sized open hole 'window' behind it, to allow the poor housewife to see what she was doing; I cut, and installed, the slightly bigger glazed stone window that now replaces it. The two side stones are the 'draining boards', and the middle stone (which has a shallow 1 inch deep interior) is where all the daily work was done.

What a hard life those women must have led. This rustic stone sink and her huge open fireplace were the only 'luxuries' she would have had with which to run her household...... and people today complain that their all-mod-cons kitchens need replacing after just a few years usage.

15 comments:

  1. It looks lovely (not that I would want to use it for its original purpose. Love the pewter plate.

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  2. It looks just like the very latest models being installed by very high end kitchen & bathroom fitting suppliers....now we know where they got their inspiration. J.

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    Replies
    1. Goodness; I didn't realise how trendy we were!

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  3. Very nice picture,
    to a life of humility, our daily bread, no whining and complaining, it was the normal everyday life. I think of my grandmother, who as a young woman from one village to another, many hours went to work in the castle kitchen.
    Early in the morning and late evening zurück.Sie had until the ripe old age a healthy heart.
    Grüße von Jasmin

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  4. Has the look of a church altar about it! Our family lived in all sorts of places from totally without indoor plumbing of any kind to modern and fully-equipped with windows and tiled roof. I don't think we ever had an altar though!

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    Replies
    1. and I won't be holding 'services' either.

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  5. Cro you are truely blessed to have these special things in yor home,hats off to you for leaving it there..just priceless really.

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  6. Bloody luxury! . . . We used to wash up in the stream that ran through the "Charbotte" (sort of mountain hut) . . I kid you not, but I'm ever so slightly mad ;-)
    (I'll try and find some photos to post of said Charbotte)

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  7. This reminds me of my Nan's dressing table, it always held a large bowl and large jug, I imagine at one time she used to use it to wash herself but with the advent of taps she just kept it for it's decorative effect.
    Briony
    x

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  8. For a confirmed atheist, your house doesn't half look like a chapel in parts.

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  9. my grandma cooked on an open fire when she first married. As she was fond of telling me "You youngsters don't know you're born".
    Your home is just charming.

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  10. Wow, things have gotten so complex. That looks lovely.

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  11. It was a luxury at one point, but yes, I can't imagine doing many dishes in a sink that small. But it is pretty, and a nice window to look out of is a must.

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  12. Just been having a look at your hay (and weeds) hoping there were no signs of Foxes' breakfast! Well done with your harvest even if it goes off site. This is a very picturesque little corner you have created from the old sink bench. Your mention of the tiny window sheds a new light on a tiny window next to the range in my Skudder House. Maybe that is where the original sink/basin work bench was.

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