Georgian house seeks storytelling cook

Sunday 15 July 2018

If your storytelling is as delicious as your cooking, the National Trust may just have the perfect role for you…

They are on the lookout for someone who can spin a yarn and whip up authentic dishes to step into the role of cook and housekeeper and bring their Georgian house property in New Street to life.

The Trust protects and preserves some of the most notable landscapes, historical sites and nature and wildlife on the island – some of which are open to the public to learn more about and immerse themselves in the island’s history.

Now, the Trust wants to recruit a part-time cook and housekeeper to work at their Georgian house on New Street for one day a week until the end of October and also in the lead up to Christmas.

Pictured: The resident cook at 16 New Street will have to prepare authentic dishes in period costume (National Trust for Jersey).

The role involves a lot of storytelling and preparing authentic Georgian dishes for visitors to sample, all whilst dressed in period costume. The role is designed to make visitors to the house feel as though they are “stepping back in time” and bring the Regency period to life. 

Catherine Ward, House and Collections Manager for the Trust spoke to Express about the importance of the cook/housekeeper during that time: “[The cook] is the first person people meet, they’re an introduction to the house.”

Referring back to the housekeeper employed by the wealthy family of six who used to reside at 16 New Street, Catherine said: “Her role was key in the house”.

Pictured: The cook will be expected to engage with visitors and school groups in order to bring the authentic Georgian house to life (National Trust for Jersey).

Catherine said that the resident cook will be expected to talk to visitors about equipment in the kitchen, preparing treats like biscuits and cakes for people to taste as well as telling historically accurate stories about what their life would have been like in the early-19^thcentury.

Mary Hillyard, who is the current relief cook at the property, said that an interest in history and cookery is crucial for the role. Mary told Express: “There’s a real family feel in the house, it feels like a family home and it’s nice to see people appreciate it.

Mary said that to be resident cook, you have to “be a bit on your feet” and you “need to know a little bit about the cooking”. She added that “it’s lovely working for the National Trust. The team is brilliant and the support is great.”