I'll be honest, when I first watched the programme, I had never heard of Hannah Woolley, and I suspect lots of other people hadn't either. What this brief clip from the programme does is give us a concise, but very thorough, insight into what it was that Hannah Woolley achieved. As Elaine says, in running a household of what was probably anywhere between 8 and 14 people (including her 6 children), Hannah was far from a quiet little housewife who only occupied her time with mundane and futile tasks. She was essentially running a small business, and evidently wanted to share her own methods and approaches with other women in a similar situation. Indeed, she was probably the first woman to earn a living from writing books on household management.
It was this example of the extraordinary success which stemmed from a woman's non-fiction writing which first grabbed me and made me want to pursue my interest in their writing, particularly on subjects such as household management and medicine. Below I have shared some of my favourite excerpts from several of Hannah Woolley's works for you to enjoy! In each transcription I have preserved the original spelling and capitalisation.
From The Accomplish’d ladies delight, in preserving, physick, beautifying, and cookery (1670):
'To make Mackroons:
Take almonds, blanch them, beat them in a Morter, with serced Sugar mingled therewith, with the white of Egg and Rosewater, then beat them altogether till they are as thick as Fritters, them drop it upon your waters, and bake it.' (A2r)
'To make Almond Milk:
Boyl French Barly, as you boyl it, cast away the water, till you see the water leave to change Colour; as you put in more fresh water, then put in a bundle of Strawberry leaves, and as much Cullumbine leaves, and boyl it a good while, then put in beaten Almonds and strain them, and then strain it with Sugar and Rosemary, them strew some Sugar about the dish, and send it to the Table.' (A4r)
'To make Pan-cakes:
Put eight Eggs to two quarts of Flower, casting by four whites, season it with Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Ginger, Cloves, Mace and Salt, then make it up into a strong Batter with Milk, beat it well together, and put in half a pint of Sack, make it so thin that it may run in your Pan how you please, put your pan on the Fire with a little Butter, or Suet, when it is very hot, take a Cloth and wipe it out, so make your Pan very clean, them put in your Batter, and run it very thin, supply it with little bits of Butter, and so toss it often, and bake it Crisp and brown.' (p. 147 – for some reason the signatures have stopped by this point!)
From The Compleat servant-maid (1670):
'How to Prevent the Tooth-ach:
Wash your mouth once a week in White-wine, in which Spurge hath been boyled, and you shall never be troubled with the Tooth-ach.' (p. 49).
'How to keep the Hair Clean, and Preserve it:
Take two handfuls of Rosemary, and boyl it softly in a quart of Spring water, till it comes to a pint, and let it be covered all the while, then strain it out and keep it, every morning when you comb your head, dip a Spunge in the water and rub your hair, and it will keep it clean and preserve it, for it is very good for the brain, and will dry up Rheum.' (p. 71)
'To make a Salve for the Lips:
Take two ounces of white Bees wax and slice it thin, then melt it over the fire, with two ounces or more of Sallet-Oyl, and a little white sugar candy, and when you see it is well incorporated, take it off the fire and let it stand till it be cold, then set the skillet on the fire again, till the bottom is warm and so turn it out, anoint your lips, or sore nose or sore nipples with this, and it will heal them.’ (p. 72)
1. Hannah Woolley, The Accomplish’d ladies delight, in preserving, physick, beautifying, and cooker (1670)
2. _____, The Compleat servant-maid (1670)
© Jenna Townend 2013
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