“An Inventory of Areloms”

On 2 September 1768 an official called John Yeoman, a Notary Public, drew up an inventory of the “Areloms [heirlooms] belong the Master's House comonly call'd Charterhouse, or God's House”. A new Master, John Bourne, had been announced and was to formally take up his appointment on 30 September, so it was a chance to take stock of the contents of the house which belonged to the foundation. The spelling of the document is eccentric, to say the least, but it gives us a picture of the furnishings and equipment of a large house of the time. It starts:

         

          In the Kitchen

1 Large Dressor , with 4 Cubberts – 1 other Dressor of white fir with 3 Drawers

1 large kitchen Range, with a fender, shovle. Tongs & Poaker – 1 iron Crane & Stretcher

1 pair of Clamps

2 sets of frames & Pullies, and a small weight for a Jack

1 Chafering Dish

1 scallopt fender with Shovle Tongs and Poaker

1 small ditto

a lead Ceasteron [cistern?] with Brass Cock

a little fir table leafe to cover a stone Slabb

14 iron Hooks, Top of Cealing

The living rooms and bedrooms were bare in comparison:

In the Chambers & Garrotts

5 iron Grates fixt in the Chimneys

1 old Stove ditto moveable as occasion requires

1 new ditto low dining room and

1 ovel Table

Had the relatives of the previous Master, John Clarke, removed all the beds and other furnishings apart from a couple of tables?

The study fared better; Clarke had even left some books:

In the Studdy

1 Writeing Desk and Shelves for Books with 3 Cubberts on the South

of ditto

1 Cloath press, 1 ditto Chest & [illegible] for Writings

3 folio Books, W. Parkins, 4 Octavo: 1 pr & 1 Bible

The “Cellor” contained “3 Oak Ganteries for casks”. These casks would contain the products of the:

Brewhouse

1 Fire Grate & Clamps

1 Cope & Grate, Mash fatt, Gile-fatt, Tap-Tubb, a wood hoop'd Bucket, Scoupe & Piggin, a funnel, Strum, Stirer, a Trugon, Poaker & a Peel

3 Iron Bound Bear Tubbs, a Henhope & a bottle Crate

1 Iron Furnice Pott & Grate – 1 Heater Stove & 2 old [illegible] a Iron Rake, a Howe, Edging iron & 2 pair of old Hedge Shears

A “fatt” was surely a vat, but the rest needs explaining by an expert.

Yeoman ventured into the Yard & Stable, where there were:

4 old Sythes

1 Large Lead Ceasteron, Slab & Corn Chest

1 Broad Step Ladder – Paddock 4 Ladders

Finally, in the Chappel, were:

1 Large Bible

1 ditto octavo

1 Large prayer Book

                                            2 ditto in Sculcoates Church.

There is no mention of any hymn books or prayer books for the use of the inmates, but perhaps Yeoman was only listing items for the Master's use. There is a last note:

N.B. there is some Pewter Dishes in the Hospital which I believe are for the Use of the Master Occasionally.