Food History Treasures of the Guildhall Library with Peter Ross

Today I am talking with returning guest Peter Ross who was, until recently, the Principal Librarian at the City of London's Guildhall Library. His fantastic book called Insatiable Appetites, Eating Out in Georgian London, published by the Bodleian Library was published last month, May 2026. Today we are talking about the collections in the Guildhall Library, which is a staggering 600 years old.

We mention quite a few books and collections, but there are links in the shownotes, and there will be images on the accompanying blog post, so do check that out too.

We talk about the history of the library and how it got some of its collections such as the Elizabeth David collection, but also some of the lesser known ones such as the Robert Miller collection, the splendiferous feast put on for James I by the Merchant Tailors, the importance of the author’s voice when it comes to writing popular cookery books, Hannah Glasse’s sauerkraut, and Elizabeth David’s Fanny Cradock avoidance techniques, amongst many other things.

Those listening to the secret podcast get some bonus material where we discuss the Hannah Glasse recipes that don’t work, the Worshipful Company of Brewers, poisonous pears in pewter pots and more.

The Guildhall Library

Insatiable Appetites, Eating Out in Georgian London by Peter Ross

Peter will be at the Chalke History Festival on 27 June 2024 talking about Georgian Feasting

Accompanying blog post on British Food: A History

Season 10 of the podcast is sponsored by Netherton Foundry, makers of high-quality kitchen and outdoor cookware. Netherton Foundry ships to several countries outside of the UK, including the USA and Canada. Visit www.netherton-foundry.co.uk to find out more about their wonderful products – approved not just by me but by folk such as Tom Parker-Bowles, Diana Henry and Nigella Lawson.

The mixing and sound engineering were done by Thomas Ndinas of The Delicious Legacy podcast

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Things mentioned in today’s episode

The Guildhall Library Collections

The Art of Cookery Made Plain and Easy by Hannah Glasse

The Closet of the Eminently Learned Sir Kenelme Digby kt. Opened

Choice and experimented receipts in physick and chirurgery by Kenelm Digby

Li tre trattati on Abebooks for a mere £12,500

A Creative List of Meat Carving Terms from the Middle Ages

Previous pertinent podcast episodes

Eating Out in Georgian London with Peter Ross

Fanny Cradock with Kevin Geddes

Early Television Cookbooks and Tie-ins with Kevin Geddes

The English Table with Jill Norman

50 Years of 'English Food' by Jane Grigson with Sam Bilton, Annie Gray, Ivan Day & Jill Norman

18th Century Female Cookery Writers with the Delicious Legacy Podcast

Previous pertinent blog posts

Charles Darwin and the Owl

Neil’s blogs and YouTube channel:

‘British Food: a History’

The British Food History Channel

‘Neil Cooks Grigson’

Neil’s books:

Before Mrs Beeton: Elizabeth Raffald, England’s Most Influential Housekeeper

A Dark History of Sugar

Knead to Know: a History of Baking

The Philosophy of Puddings

Don’t forget, there will be postbag episodes in the future, so if you have any questions or queries about today’s episode, or indeed any episode, or have a question about the history of British food please email me at neil@britishfoodhistory.com, or on twitter and BlueSky @neilbuttery, or Instagram and Threads dr_neil_buttery. My DMs are open.

You can also join the British Food: a History Facebook discussion page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/britishfoodhistory

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