I was talking to a friend yesterday about banquets and was reminded about The Great Cawood Feast; how would you fancy being at this shin-dig?

The Great Cawood Feast

There on the banks of the Ouse is the small village of Cawood. Not always was this the sleepy place it is today. Two events render Cawood renown in history: one for sheltering, in his adversity, that ambitious churchman Wolsey and two; the place where George Neville held his great banquet.

The first mention of the place is about 935 after Athelstan's victory over the invaders at the battle of Brunanburgh. From the twelfth to the sixteenth century the castle was the home or shelter of the noblest in church and camp. Henry III and his Queen rested here, here dwelt Marguerite of France, second wife of Edward I.

Edward II made Cawood his home on several occasions. In 1319, Queen Isabella, being guest to the Archbishop at Cawood attracted two Scottish knights, Douglas and Randolph with a chosen body of troops to attempt a kidnap of the Queen. This was thwarted by the capture of one of the Scots troops who told of the plan and the Queen was spirited away.

There is still some parts of the old castle standing today and a great residence it was in days of old. This was the seat of the Archbishop of York and many great times has it seen.

None greater than when Archbishop George Neville, brother to Warwick the Kingmaker, was installed as Archbishop in 1464 and set about making his presence known by inviting all the local nobles to a gigantic feast.

Take a look at what made up the menu.......

Wheat - 300 quarters
Pikes & Breams - 608
Porpoises & Seals - 12

Oxen - 104
Muttons - 1000
Porks - 304,
Wild Bulls - 6
Veals - 304
Kids - 204

Swans - 400
Capons - 1000
Biterns - 204
Pheasants - 200
Woodcocks - 400
Egrittes - 1000
Quales - 100 doz.
Fowls - 200 doz.
Cranes - 204
Pigeons - 4000
Geese - 2000
Coneys - 4000
Heronshaws - 400
Partridges - 500
Curlews - 100
Plovers - 400
Peacocks - 104
Mallards & Teals - 4000
Chickens - 2000
Pygges - 2000

Stags, Does & Bucks - 500
Venison Pasties - 1500 heated - 4000 cold

Dishes of Jellies - 300
Baked Tarts - 4000,
Baked Custards - 3000
Hot Custards - 2000

Ale - 300 tuns
Wine - 100 tuns
Ypocrass - 1 pipe

This feast required 1000 cooks, 500 kitcheners and 500 scullions to prepare it and 1000 servants to wait on the guests.

Some time later George was stripped of his estates and imprisoned - doubtless this great banquet would be food for thought in his dark times.