Beaulieu

The Dining Hall: Country House Entertainment

Originally the Inner Hall of the monastic gatehouse, the dining hall was central to the country house entertainments of the 18th and 19th centuries. It is still used today by the family on important occasions.

During Lord Montagu's grandfather's day the family always ate here but children under the age of fourteen did not dine with them. The children ate nursery food which was neither rich nor highly flavoured. Servants ate in their own dining hall.

Breakfast, the first meal of the day, was served at 9 o'clock. Cold items like cereals were placed on a side table, hot dishes brought by servants. The dining hall was closer to the kitchen than in the average country house and the food was usually hot when it arrived at the table. Lunch became popular in the late 19th century as dinner was pushed back in time to the early evening. Previously, a large meal was eaten around three in the afternoon, followed by supper at 8pm.

Entertainments during Lord Montagu's grandfather's time varied from those 'en famille' like instrumental solos and recitations to large-scale supper dances, but the most popular form was the private dinner party. The ideal number of guests was said to be somewhere between the three Graces and nine Muses of Greek mythology. On arrival they were received in the drawing room and the half-hour before the meal was passed in light conversation over sherry. At this time cocktails had not been introduced. Dinner was announced by Pleasant, the butler and the ladies escorted to their place by the gentlemen in an order of precedence ordained by the Lord Chamberlain.

The food varied according to the season. Lack of efficient methods of refrigeration led to problems of preservation. Pork was rarely eaten during the summer months and fruit and vegetables were pickled, bottled, salted, smoked and dried for use during the winter as was meat which was potted.

After the meal was completed, the ladies retired to their Drawing Room, leaving the men to pass the port around, smoke and discuss subjects regarded as unsuitable for women!

Palace House has seen many such entertainments over the years. Lord Montagu's father's coming- of-age in 1887 was celebrated with a week of festivities. A garden party was held on the Tuesday, followed by a miniature review on the Beaulieu River and an evening dance. Wednesday saw a dinner for 200 tenants and a tea for cottagers' families. Amusements abounded and in the evening the grounds were illuminated for a fireworks display. Thursday was the night of the County ball, followed by a tenants' ball on Friday.

More recently, the dining hall has been the setting for family dinners to celebrate Lord Montagu's elder son's 21st birthday in 1982 and his mother's 90th birthday in 1985.