Stones: From The Butt'ry to Ye Old Burying Ground

The Corgyncombe Butt'ry and Family Turf

The Butt'ry in old houses was oft' times on the north side of the house because it was the coolest side of the building. This is so at Corgyncombe Cottage. The Corgyncombe Butt'ry is on the north side of the cottage. Corgyncombe Cottage acquired the sandstone sink in Connecticut where Diane and Sarah's ancestors, the Stanclift family, dwelt. In the above photograph Diane has a colander full of washed carrots from the Corgyncombe Vegetable Garden.

The Corgyncombe Courant knows that their readers are wondering why we going from the Butt'ry to the old graveyard...

Gravestone of James Stanclift (1712-1785). In the border on the sides it looks like thistles and vines were carved.
Gravestone carving was a tradition in the Stanclift family. The stone in the photograph above was carved by James Stanclift Jr. (b. 1756) for his father James Stanclift (1712-1785). Diane's 6th great grandfather James Stanclift (1712-1785) also carved gravestones, as did his father William Stanclift (1686-1761) and grandfather James Stanclift (1639-1712) before him. In the graveyard, near the gravestone that is pictured above, is a stone that James Stanclift (1712-1785) himself carved for his son Thomas who was wounded in the Revolutionary War and though he made it back home he died soon after from the wounds inflicted upon him. The stone of the gravestones and the Corgyncombe Butt'ry sink are the same reddish brown sandstone. The sink, which was from a very old house in the area the Stanclifts lived, could well have been made by one of the Stanclifts.

Whilst here in the Butt'ry you will notice some handmade goat's milk soap on the sink. A goatie friend of Diane's made the soap and of course Diane wants to make some of her own. The friend recommended "Milk-Based Soaps" by Casey Makela and for cheese making, "Home Cheese Making" by Ricki Carroll.

In the Butt'ry, on the shelf amongst the yellowware, is "The New England Butt'ry Shelf Cookbook" written by Mary Mason Campbell and illustrated by Tasha Tudor. The book goes throughout the year, featuring receipts for different celebrations and contains Tasha's delightful colour illustrations for New Year's, Valentine's Day, Easter, May Day, Afternoon Tea, Weddings, Anniversaries, Picnics, Fourth of July, Birthdays, Quilting Bee Thimble Tea, Hallowe'en, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. The Corgyncombe Courant's favorite colour illustration is the corgi in the butt'ry surrounded by delectable Christmas treats and includes many of our favorite things.

Some carrots from The Corgyncombe Cannery... delicious for winter soups, stews, and casseroles. And now, dear readers, another batch of carrots needs pulling and preparing for canning. The Corgyncombe Vegetable Garden has carrots in abundance.

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