A LOOK into how Tatton’s kitchen and servants worked in the past is the focal point of a new exhibition which has opened at the estate this week.

On Saturday, September 14, a new exhibition opened in the Mansion at Tatton Park.

The Hidden Histories exhibition delves into the rich history of those who owned, served and visited the estate.

The exhibition marks the first stage of the Hidden Histories project, which has been funded by Arts Council England’s Renaissance Strategic Support Fund for English museums, and was awarded in 2012/13.

Amongst other initiatives the £63,000 grant has enabled Tatton to commission specialist research into the diverse experiences of those ‘above’ and ‘below stairs’ and the technological advances in the Mansion.

Previous and current research projects have led to links between Tatton and John Rylands University Library of Manchester, Southampton University, Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester University, Manchester Metropolitan University and Leeds Metropolitan University, as well as experts from the National Trust and a host of very talented individuals.

Caroline Schofield, Tatton’s mansion and collections manager, said: “It has been extremely exciting to commission new research on the kitchens and servants quarters here at Tatton.

“This first phase has given us baseline information so that we can now plan how we want to change our displays to make the stories come to life, and the exhibition will share some of what we have found out so far.

“The first phase of the project has concentrated on the kitchens and domestic quarters.

“Here, in this warren of rooms, the Mansion was run like clockwork to a strict and hierarchical structure.

“Just imagine the smell, the heat, the clatter and clamour of rooms once sounding with service.

“It is these stories that the Hidden Histories project aims to bring to life.”

The new exhibition, which runs – until September 29, shares some of these initial findings and, with the help of a dedicated project website, hiddenhistories.co.uk, and newly-introduced iPad technology in the servants’ quarters, it is hoped visitors will be able to ‘get under the skin’ of what it must have been like to have lived and served here.