Sinking Feeling
If your budget doesn’t quite run to a butler, why not settle for the next best thing? His sink. For centuries, these fireclay stalwarts lived in the butler’s pantry, a lockable room where the butler would count the family silver after every service and oversee the washing of the finest china – for added security he often slept in there.
These days, no ‘country kitchen’ look is complete without one of these elbowdeep, white china rectangles protruding proudly from a length of worktop.
Sadly, Rock House came without a Butler sink (or a butler) but now that we have indoor plumbing, I have decided to splash out and install one.
But should I go for a Butler or a Belfast? At first glance, there seems little to differentiate between the two except an overflow – or a weir, as it’s also known. This crucial design detail has endured from the time of their invention back in the 17th century. Like most aspects of household design, its principles grew out of necessity.
The people and potters of Belfast had ready access to plentiful water supplies and as a result faced no pressing concerns about wastage. The tap could literally be left running – hence the overflow. London and its factories however, were less lucky. Built on clay, the city has always struggled to access supplies, and deep wells had to be dug at great cost. Wasting water was prohibited by the newly introduced drainage departments and, as a result, sink manufacturers were instructed not to install overflows.
To keep things historically correct, I should choose a London Butler’s sink – they were the standard for Hastings – but ultimately, I will be driven by cost. I should, of course, be driven by sense. As anyone devoted to washing up by hand will attest, a stainless-steel sink with drainer is the most effective tool for the job. It may not make the neighbours green with envy but it might save Aunt June’s crockery for the next generation.
Next week: Cat on holiday, part 2
These days, no ‘country kitchen’ look is complete without one of these elbowdeep, white china rectangles protruding proudly from a length of worktop.
Sadly, Rock House came without a Butler sink (or a butler) but now that we have indoor plumbing, I have decided to splash out and install one.
But should I go for a Butler or a Belfast? At first glance, there seems little to differentiate between the two except an overflow – or a weir, as it’s also known. This crucial design detail has endured from the time of their invention back in the 17th century. Like most aspects of household design, its principles grew out of necessity.
The people and potters of Belfast had ready access to plentiful water supplies and as a result faced no pressing concerns about wastage. The tap could literally be left running – hence the overflow. London and its factories however, were less lucky. Built on clay, the city has always struggled to access supplies, and deep wells had to be dug at great cost. Wasting water was prohibited by the newly introduced drainage departments and, as a result, sink manufacturers were instructed not to install overflows.
To keep things historically correct, I should choose a London Butler’s sink – they were the standard for Hastings – but ultimately, I will be driven by cost. I should, of course, be driven by sense. As anyone devoted to washing up by hand will attest, a stainless-steel sink with drainer is the most effective tool for the job. It may not make the neighbours green with envy but it might save Aunt June’s crockery for the next generation.
Next week: Cat on holiday, part 2