A reconstructed 16th century kitchen. The hanging box keeps mice and rats out of the food.

Description: The kitchen was one of the largest departments in the royal household. A senior official called the 'catour' would be in charge. The Master of the Household, his family, guests and all the other staff looking after the palace would need feeding, even if the queen was staying elsewhere.

Mary Queen of Scots probably operated the French kitchen system. One kitchen fed the queen and her principle courtiers and officials. This court kitchen probably fed the rest of the household and servants.

About half the kitchen staff actually worked in the kitchen. Others worked in different offices such as the brewhouse, breadhouse, pastry-house, spice-house and larder. The scullery was where everything was washed. The coal and timber house was important for keeping supplies of fuel. Wood was mainly used for cooking and roasting.

Water for the court kitchen came from a well in the Laich (low) kitchen, which is in the chamber directly below this court kitchen.