From the 1880s to the 1930s, the kitchen complex was the heart of Rippon Lea. Below stairs was a hive of activity and bustling servants. The cool rooms and cellars were filled with produce, preserves and fine wines. Every meal served upstairs began its journey down here.
Below Stairs: The Kitchen Complex
Tucked away beneath the grandeur of Rippon Lea’s house is the Victorian kitchen complex. This was the working area of the household. It once hummed with the clatter of pots, the scent of baking bread, and the quiet rhythm of daily life “below stairs.”
Today visitors can visit the kitchen complex, which is under ground level beneath the house. This allowed the food areas to keep an even and cool temperature all year round. The kitchens at Como House, built in the late 1840s, were in a separate building because of the risk of fires.
But at Rippon Lea, just a few years later, fashions had changed and kitchens were built under the main house, for ease and convenience.
There are seven rooms, consisting of:
Servants’ Sitting Room:
a social space for the servants. During breaks and after work they would relax here. They could enjoy afternoon tea together, reading and perhaps perform sundry tasks like repairs or sewing. It was converted into a laundry in the 1930s.
Scullery:
An area dedicated to washing, drying and storage
Kitchen:
The hub of the servant quarters. The main cooking area, where meals were prepared for the household. It needed little furniture – just a pine table and dresser
Cool Rooms:
These rooms were used to store perishable food such as meat or dairy. This was before refrigeration was common. The thick slate shelves and marble benches acted as cool insulation for cooked foods, leftovers and cold desserts
Meat Store:
A dedicated space for storing and butchering meat
Pantry:
The main storage area for dry food such as flour, tea, spices and preserves. The doors have wire mesh around them for ventilation. Metal bins were used to store bulk dry goods like flour, oats and rice and protect them from rodents
Cellar:
For storing wines and other drinks. This was the butler’s sole responsibility, His reputation rested on his ability to manage and maintain a good cellar. With the wine racks full this would have been an impressive sight
Falling Silent
For over fifty years, this bustling hub sustained the grand household above. In the 1930s a modern new wing was built with a sleek modern kitchen installed on the ground floor. The old rooms were sealed and fell silent. Locked in time until the National Trust opened them to the public again.
Today, the original kitchen complex stands as a rare and beautifully preserved time capsule. A glimpse into domestic activities and daily routines rarely captured. There are few surviving examples of a Victorian kitchen complex on a scale like this.
Learn more
Of National heritage significance, Rippon Lea is a grand 19th century mansion complete with a Victorian garden to explore, heritage orchard, lake, childrens playground, fernery and grotto.
