Scullery

Brodick Castle Scullery

Scullery is a room in a house primarily used for washing dishes and laundering clothes, or as an overflow kitchen. Tasks done in the scullery include cleaning dishes and cooking utensils (or storing them), occasional kitchen work, ironing, boiling water for cooking or bathing, and soaking and washing clothes. Sculleries contain hot and cold sinks, sometimes slop sinks, drain boards, and storage shelves. The term is most commonly used in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Commonwealth countries, but can also be found in the United States and Canada.

History

The scullery has its origins in the medieval period. It was a room separate from the main kitchen, designed to keep the steam, smells, and mess of dishwashing and clothes washing away from the main house. In the Victorian era, the scullery was a standard feature in middle-class and upper-class homes. It was typically located at the back of the house, near the kitchen, and was often a small, poorly lit room with little ventilation.

Design and Function

In a traditional scullery, the primary feature is the deep sinks, made of stone, concrete, or ceramic, designed for washing dishes and larger kitchen items that could not be washed in the kitchen. The sinks would have both hot and cold water taps. Above the sinks, open shelving or plate racks were common for drying and storing dishes. A scullery might also have a large table for laundry and food preparation tasks.

The floors of sculleries were typically made of stone or tiled, sloping slightly towards a drain, making it easier to wash down the room. Some sculleries had a copper boiler embedded in a brick setting for boiling water or laundry.

Modern Usage

In modern homes, the distinction between the kitchen and scullery has blurred, with many of the functions of the scullery being absorbed into the kitchen or utility room. However, in larger houses or in designs inspired by traditional layouts, a separate scullery can still be found. These modern sculleries might be used for dishwashing, as a pantry, or for additional storage. They often feature high-end appliances, such as dishwashers and washing machines, and are designed with aesthetics as well as functionality in mind.

Cultural References

The scullery maid was a common position in large households. This servant was responsible for washing dishes, pots, and pans, and often had the lowest status among servants. The hard work and harsh conditions of scullery maids have been depicted in literature and film, highlighting the class divide and the tough living conditions of the working class during the Victorian era and into the 20th century.

See Also

• Kitchen
• Utility room
• Laundry room
• Victorian architecture