The esteemed food writer Elizabeth David’s working kitchen will be brought to life at Stansted House this September.

The immersive installation, organised by Stansted Park Foundation and the Elizabeth David Estate, will take place on September 14–15, 2024.

They are initiating it in conjunction with the inaugural South Downs Food Festival.

The exhibit will allow visitors to step into David's kitchen, meticulously recreated in the Edwardian kitchen of Stansted House, near Rowlands Castle.

The arrangement will involve her original furniture and cooking equipment, giving the public a chance to see the setting where David produced her ground-breaking cookery books.

The idea comes from the time, dating back to 1951 when David first moved into 24 Halsey Street, London.

There, she utilised a garden extension as her kitchen, which also served as a writing studio and a gathering place.

This kitchen welcomed all her food preparation, writing, and social activities.

It contained a New World gas cooker and was centered around a large pine table.

Johnny Grey, David’s nephew, later designed a second kitchen in the house.

Notably, the Stansted Park installation will showcase items from both kitchens.

This includes a large French armoire and a dresser used for storage and display of several items including glassware, stoneware, decorative plates, and cooking pans.

David's winter kitchen’s tabletop will also be on display, complete with her ashtray, her Nescafe set-up, and a bottle of her favourite Muscat.

Visitors can also expect to see cooking utensils, crockery, earthenware, and a Le Creuset terrine once used by David, who championed high-quality kitchenware and used these unique items from her travels in her own kitchen.

From 1965, she also imported and stocked items from Le Creuset and other manufacturers in her Chelsea-based store, Elizabeth David Limited.

The exhibit will also highlight a selection of David's cookbooks, photographs of her in the kitchen and archival records related to her winter kitchen's design.

These pieces document not only David’s culinary influence on Britain but also her keen eye for design and aesthetics.

Dame Prue Leith will officially launch the South Downs Food Festival alongside this kitchen installation.

The festival is set to attract food enthusiasts, chefs, writers, campaigners, and artisan producers for a fulfilling weekend of food fascination and titillating talks.

Additionally, as a gesture of hospitality, Stansted House will grant 50 per cent off its entry fee of £10 during the festival.