The Inn at Saint Ninian’s Well: Tavern and Kitchen

Sunday 1 May 2011

The second round at the Plumb Bob Keep inn-​building contest consisted of decorating the tavern and the kitchens of the inn.

Part of my “kitchen” was actually built in Round One when I decorated the outside of the inn. The actual cooking is done in the yard.

Following is my entry, as posted. Click any picture to embiggen.

Bird’s eye view:

From left to right there are the dining area, the stairs, the bar area, the kitchen, and the cellar.

Let’s start the tour in the grand entry:

A staircase leads to the second floor. This part of the second floor is open to the tavern below so that the smoke from the fire (just visible to the left of the stairs) will exit through the hole in the thatch roof—hopefully. Pubs were smoke-​filled in the 11^th century too. It was just a different kind of smoke.  

A new guest would probably go right to the bar, to reserve a room or meal with the tavern keeper. Here is a view of the bar from a table in the corner:

It looks like someone must have announced a miracle at the well, because everyone seems to have dashed out of there, leaving their mugs and snacks on the tables.

Next our traveler might go into the dining area, where he could dry his shoes and warm up his feet beside the fire:

Around the corner to the left there is a basin where he might wash his hands before eating:

A basket of sweet-​smelling herbs is provided to perfume the water, compliments of the inn. The handy window makes basin-​emptying an easy chore.

The basin is next to the smaller door that opens directly onto the dining hall. Regular patrons are more likely to come in this way, the better to hear the shout of greeting from the other regulars lounging around the fire.

If our newcomer takes the table in the far corner—a good spot for watching without being watched—this is what he would see:

From here he can see all the way back into the kitchen.

Here is a view from the bar area into the kitchen:

In the walkway between the two, there is a worktable for plating meals, and more kegs of ale in case the barrels behind the bar are running low.

In the background you can just glimpse the barred gate leading to the candlelit cellar.

Here is another view into the kitchen:

And a view looking out from the kitchen into the far corner of the dining hall:

Finally we open the barred gate to the cellar that we glimpsed from the bar:

Cheeses and plucked fowls are kept on the shelf beside the stairs, where they may stay cool but remain close at hand. The high, vaulted ceiling is hung with rows of drying sausages, a specialty of the house.

Finally, another view from the far end of the cellar:

The space beside the stairs is filled with barrels of wine and ale, piled high with baskets and jars of food.