There’s a new page on my website

Translations of medieval texts about food

Hello everyone!

I have recently been working in Rochester, Kent (i.e. in England, not USA) with the local TV station KMTV, based in the adjoining town of Chatham. I’m the researcher and interviewee for a couple of episodes of the children’s programme called News Nuggets. These episodes, airing in the autumn, are about medieval food in Medway, the part of North Kent near to the River Medway.

I’ll write more at a later date about the fun I had with Louis and Skylar, local primary school students, and Mariam, the episode’s presenter. We enjoyed finding out what the monks of Rochester’s medieval priory would have eaten, and what their servants ate too. And, fingers crossed, the two medieval recipes I’ve adapted for the children and Mariam to follow will result in some tasty, edible medieval food. (That bit hasn’t been filmed yet.)

For now, I thought I’d let you know that the research for filming has inspired me to add a new page of translations to this website. Since Mariam and I took a look at two of the medieval books held by Rochester Cathedral, in order to help us in our quest for understanding, I thought it would be good to include excerpts of what we looked at, and also add other translations I’ve worked on over the years in heritage and other projects.

So, here is my new page with the very first translation. I’ll be adding others very shortly.

Image at the top of the page is from Custumale Roffense, fol. 53r, by permission of the Dean and Chapter of Rochester Cathedral.

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