Watching all those Victorian Kitchen Garden shows made me remember a day trip we took in 2010 to tour the Pittock Mansion. This grand estate of 22 rooms on 46 acres was built in the west hills overlooking Portland in 1909. It was the private home of Henry & Georgiana Pittock, who both died within ten years after moving in. Then the property went to successive family members and eventually fell into ruin after storm damage in 1962. The remaining descendant, a grandson, was hard-pressed to keep it up and sold it to the city of Portland, supported by funds raised by the community, to repair and restore it. It's been open to the public since 1965 and has been an historic landmark ever since. It has also made an appearance in several films.
The mansion has grand, elegant, sweeping rooms at every turn. More photos can be seen on the website (see link above). But really, I found the kitchen spaces most charming, and the views breathtaking. This main kitchen was the cook's domain. I imagine it was a favorite place for biscuit and pastry making with Mount Hood rising up in the distance. Today, the city scape adds a modern view.
Anyone know what the little gadget on the left is for? A nutmeg grinder, perhaps?
A fine, serviceable sink!
I love this supply and food pantry. Every house should have one!
A second house on the property, the Gate Lodge, was provided as a servant's quarters and was outfitted with a darling little stove, with lots of compartments for baking, warming, roasting and such.
The Gate Lodge kitchen work table also had one of the best window view's in the house; which must have helped keep the cook content despite all the long hours preparing meals from scratch.
This sweet little butler's pantry is tucked into the back of the Gate Lodge kitchen. That sink probably had a cute skirt at one time.
The breakfast table in the mansion; a beautiful way to start the day.
I loved the Victorian Kitchen garden it was fab I then went onto Victorian Farm http://www.amazon.com/Victorian-Farm-Complete-NON-USA-Kingdom/dp/B003NILBFE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1345445580&sr=8-1&keywords=victorian+farm
and I have just ordered http://www.fishpond.com.au/Movies/Turn-Back-Time-Gregg-Wallace/9397911168396
there is also http://www.amazon.com/1940s-House-Geoffrey-Palmer/dp/B0000AYL47/ref=pd_cp_mov_0
land girls was a fabulous series http://www.fishpond.com.au/Movies/Land-Girls-Series-1-3-Summer-Strallen/5036193080203
and I am hanging for this to be avaliable http://www.fishpond.com.au/Books/Wartime-Farm-Peter-Ginn-Ruth-Goodman/9781845337087
Posted by: Joyfulhomemaker | August 19, 2012 at 11:59 PM
What a fine estate with the rarest of views. How pleasant to work in such a kitchen and that pantry is amazing!
Posted by: Vee | August 20, 2012 at 05:08 AM
I'll tell you what.. I'd rather be the family dining at that breakfast table than the servants who toiled from early morning to night making sure the family had all the nice meals they wanted. :-) I love the Pittock Mansion, too. I need to go back.
((hugs)), Teresa :-)
Posted by: Teresa Kasner | August 20, 2012 at 09:20 PM
Thank you so much for the links and recommendations, I'll check them out! I have discovered a few others since I posted this too. Will share them all sometime soon.
Posted by: Vicki | August 21, 2012 at 07:14 PM
From what I understand, a good cook was hard to keep, so a well-equipped and turned out kitchen (with a view!) probably had something to do with that. One of the perks of the job.
Posted by: Vicki | August 21, 2012 at 07:20 PM