A 1710 Somerset cauldron

Cauldrons occur in most probate inventories. This cauldron was made in Somerset in 1710. An area of Somerset around Montacute and South Petherton was an important centre of cauldron and cooking pot manufacture in the early modern period. Most people would have had a cauldron to heat water on the fire. It was a valuable item as it was usually made of brass. Wealthy households would have had several.The national collection of cauldrons and skillets, long handled pans usually on feet for cooking on an open fire, will be displayed in the Museum of Somerset from autumn 2011.