September is a month of celebration and commemoration at Johnson’s Birthplace, as we prepare to mark Johnson’s 312th Birthday on September 18th. A recent tradition in Lichfield is to treat every visitor to the house to a slice of cake, and this is particularly fitting this year as the 2021 theme for the national Heritage Open Days events is ‘Edible England’. In honour of the theme, this month’s blog post serves up some food-themed items from the Birthplace collection.
“Some people,” said Johnson, “have a foolish way of not minding, or pretending not to mind, what they eat. For my part, I mind my belly very studiously and very carefully: for I look upon it, that he who does not mind his belly will hardly mind anything else.”
Boswell’s Life of Johnson
Boswell family hot water plate
This plate has a chamber which can be filled with hot water to keep food warm. It belonged to the Boswell family, and carries their crest in the centre: a hawk and the motto ‘Vraye Foy’ (True faith).
‘Tetty’, Johnson’s breakfast saucer
The Lichfield historian Thomas Harwood wrote a note in 1859 which is pasted to the base of this saucer. It reads: “This saucer was the property of Dr Samuel Johnson. Because it had belonged to his wife, his roll every morning at breakfast was placed in it, and he familiarly called it ‘Tetty’. It was given to me by the widow of Francis Barber”. The saucer, an early 18th century piece of Chinese export ware, is a touching testament to Johnson’s memory of his wife. It was on display at the old Lichfield Museum in the 19th century before coming to the Birthplace in 1901.
Anna Seward’s snowy supper
In this letter from March 25 1808, the poet Anna Seward writes to her friend Mary Powys with news of a very eventful evening at ‘Tea and Supper’ with a friend. Seward arrived by sedan chair but a snowstorm of “unparalleled rapidity” descended while her party were dining, with five-foot snow drifts making the streets impassable. They borrowed ‘the Diligence’, a stagecoach, and with some struggle and a moment of fearing that they may be stuck overnight, made it home. Anna tells her friend: “Never was I so glad to enter my own warm apartments.”
Grocery accounts
Alderman John Gilbert gave the Birthplace Museum to the city in 1901, and our collection now includes a group of documents relating to our donor. Included are family account books from two Lichfield businesses situated on Tamworth Street, which give a fascinating snapshot into the groceries of a well-off household in the early 20th century. Items purchased included oranges, pineapple chunks, Bovril and ‘Parisian Essence’
Johnson Celebration Suppers
The Birthplace Museum opened to the public in 1901, and in July a group from the Johnson Club of London visited Lichfield for the official opening day. This menu card is from their evening Supper at the George Hotel. You can read more about the day and what they ate for dinner in this blog post. The Johnson club supper can be seen as a forerunner to the Johnson Society of Lichfield annual suppers, which were held at the Three Crowns Inn before moving to Lichfield Guildhall.
A Johnson themed Dinner on the Empress of Britain, 1956
Samuel Johnson pops up in the most unexpected of places, such as this bright selection of souvenirs from a 1950s cruise. A letter accompanying the menu from a traveller named Dorothy explains that dinner menus on the cruise alternated between Canadian landmarks and places related to famous British Writers. Johnson was the theme on Wednesday August 8th, 1856
Food in Johnson’s Dictionary
There are many entries relating to food in Johnson’s 1755 Dictionary, here are just three to give a flavour. You can explore Johnson’s Dictionary online here
Salmagundi: A mixture of chopped meat and pickled herrings, with oil, vinegar, pepper, and onions.
Kissingcrust: Crust formed where one loaf in the over touches another.
Juncate: Cheesecake. A kind of sweetmeat of curds and sugar. A furtive or private entertainment. It is now improperly written junket in this sense.
When at table, Johnson was totally absorbed in the business of the moment; his looks seemed riveted to his plate; nor would he, unless when in very high company, say one word, or even pay the least attention to what was said by others, till he had satisfied his appetite, which was so fierce and indulged with such intenseness that while in the act of eating, the veins of his forehead swelled and generally a strong perspiration was visible.
Boswell’s Life of Johnson
Join us to celebrate Samuel Johnson’s 312th Birthday on Saturday 18th September. Visit our website events page for more details.