The first section of Brodie Castle was built by the first Brodie of Brodie in the 1500s. You can pretty much see the sequence of building from this photo. The part on the left was first, with the tiny windows (remember that this was built at a time when defense was important), then the middle part with slightly larger windows was next, and the more modern part, probably Georgian, came last with the larger windows.
“Brodie” is the title of the head of a family who is less wealthy and/or noble than a “laird” (we say “lord”). The 25th Brodie gave the house and its land to the Scottish National Trust several years ago, and actually volunteered for the Trust as a docent to give tours to visitors. Our docent told us that he did not introduce himself by his title to the visitors, but did make a point in the library to stand beside the painting of him and wait for someone to realize who their guide was!
After our tour of the castle (no photos allowed) we sat down in the kitchen to eat lunch in the one place where photos were allowed. We immediately felt as though we had fallen into the “bellow stairs” dinner of a Victorian family, which was always eaten in the kitchen.
Because I am interested in cooking, I was fascinated to see the stoves that the cook would have had to use to produce the meals.
I looked in vain for a heat regulator, but I did see what the cook probably used – the “oven vent” which must have been used to let out some of the heat.
And there was what looked like a very rudimentary thermometer – but clearly it was not very accurate!
I shudder think how long the scullery maid would have had to work to keep the copper pots so gleaming..
Mary
Glasgow, Scotland 9/19/18
Mary's Travel Blog 