Certificate of Achievement

Mary Templeman Hogg - O'Rourke

has completed the following course:

A History of Royal Food and Feasting

University of Reading and Historic Royal Palaces

This course explored the changing tastes of successive generations of royalty. From the Tudors to the Victorians it looked behind the scenes of some of the most incredible palaces in England. It included a combination of history, food and nutritional science related learning resources.

5 weeks, 3 hours per week

Kate Williams

Professor of Public Engagement with History,

University of Reading

Transcript

Learning outcomes

  • Investigate a range of evidence including: artefacts, documents and diary entries to draw conclusions about monarchs and key food events from the past.
  • Explore common misconceptions about the palaces, monarchs and their impact on changing dietary tastes from Henry VIII to Queen Victoria.
  • Investigate the flavour intensity, nutritional value and medicinal benefits of food past and present.
  • Discuss typical flavour combinations of the era based on a selection of historic recipes and flavour experiments, adapted for learners to try for themselves at home.

Syllabus

Week 1: King Henry VIII and Hampton Court Palace

  • The Tudor kitchens at Hampton Court Palace and catering to the king, his court and servants.
  • The celebrations and christening of Edward VI.
  • Henry’s expanding waistline and the science behind his assumed, heavy protein diet.

Week 2: Elizabeth I and the Tower of London

  • Palace or a prison? Elizabeth I’s relationship with the Tower.
  • The expansion of Elizabeth’s empire, discovery of new worlds, exotic foods and their influence on eating habits.
  • Surviving or thriving; life as a prisoner at the Tower, and some daring escapes.
  • Sir Walter Raleigh; his life as a prisoner in the Tower, experimenting with herbal plants, including his Great Cordial recipe.

Week 3: George I at Hampton Court Palace

  • How chocolate came to be an integral part of the English court and why George I had his own chocolate maker.
  • Lavish entertainments using chocolate to showcase kingship and wealth.
  • The science of chocolate.

Week 4: George III at Kew Palace

  • The Royal Kitchens at Kew Palace and how it catered for the Royal family.
  • George III; flamboyance versus frugality
  • The mad king. George’s medical treatment and the food he ate following his first bout of mental illness.

Week 5: Victoria and Kensington Palace

  • Young Victoria and the celebrations in 1836 when she turned 17.
  • The rise of the middle class queen. New technology and the Victorian food revolution.
  • Victoria’s eating habits and her favourite foods.
  • The democratisation of tea and cake.

Issued on 17th January 2022

The person named on this certificate has completed the activities in the transcript above. For more information about Certificates of Achievement and the effort required to become eligible, visit futurelearn.com/proof-of-learning/certificate-of-achievement.

This certificate represents proof of learning. It is not a formal qualification, degree, or part of a degree.

Free online course:

A History of Royal Food and Feasting

University of Reading