Please Help! Alexis Soyer- Plans of Famine Kitchen

Try the records of the Famine Relief Commission which are in the National Archive!

And this may also be of use:

Weekly Freeman’s Journal, Dublin, 17 April 1847

A book detailing the history of the Reform Club was published some years ago and from memory it contained details of his recipies for famine soup (the earlier ones were not appropriate), engravings of the stoves, full kitchen descriptions, etc. It also mentioned that the stoves remained in use by HM forces until relatively recent times.
Kb.

@Praxiteles wrote:

Try the records of the Famine Relief Commission which are in the National Archive!

Thanks for your reply Praxiteles…

I have been reliably informed by two historians, Sinead McCoole & Ruth Cowan, (Soyers Bioghrapher) that here are no “plans” as such…either in the Irish, British or Reform Club archives- there are illustrations available however, from the London “illustrated news”
which does not give much detail…hence the post…
Thanks for your feedback..
Colm.

It would be great to see the exhibit you are proposing. Have you checked his own books?, e.g. SOYER, Monsieur A[lexis].
Published: Simpkin, Marshall. London 1852. (Eighth edition)
The Gastronomic Regenerator: A Simplified and Entirely New System of Cookery, With Nearly Two Thousand Practical Receipts Suited to the Income of All Classes. Illustrated With Numerous Engravings and Correct and Minute Plans How Kitchens of Every Size, From the Kitchen of a Royal Palace to That of the Humble Cottage, Are to be Constructed and Furnished.

Table of Contents, 30 Advertisements. Engraved portraits of Soyer and Mrs. Soyer, additional engraved title, 13 engraved plates [3 folding], numerous text woodcuts including full-page kitchen plans.

Soyer came to Ireland and his new model kitchen was erected near the main entrance to Phoenix Park on April 5th 1847. With a door at either end, the building held a 300 gallon soup boiler in its centre with tables and benches set around. There was seating for 100 with bowls set into the tables and spoons which were attached to the table to prevent pilfering. A bell rang , they (a hundred paupers) were let in , drank their soup , received a portion of bread , and left by the other door. The bowls and spoons were rinsed , the bell rang again, and another hundred were admitted.’ (Cecil Woodham-Smith The Great Hunger p. 174)
Five thousand rations had been considered a daily maximum but up to 8,750 rations were served daily. Soyer had allowed himself 6 minutes per feeding cycle, so he could feed a thousand per hour. On April 5th , the Dublin Evening Packet described it as ‘ a gala day’- ‘there were Earls and Countesses , and Lords and Generals , and Colonels and Commissioners, and clergymen and doctors,’ who all paid five shillings to the Lord Mayor’s Charity. One headline (Dublin Evening Packet April 6th 1847) read , ‘Five shillings each ! When the animals in the Zoological Gardens can be inspected at feeding time for sixpence!’

Once again thanks- Yes I would love to get a memorial plaque at least erected to Soyer.
You certainly seem to be quite aware of Mr. Soyer!
The idea came about after an assignment I gave on Soyer to BA Culinary Arts Students in the Institute of Technology Tallaght.
The common theme among each assignment was, that certainly enough credit was not given to Soyer, for the work he did. As you are aware,he was slated by many commentators of the time. There may be some truth in their arguments, that the “Soup” was not nourishing, but it was independently tested, and without doubt did help the starving. but that is something historians can argue over!
I spoke to Ruth Cowan last week. She published an excellent biography a year or so ago on Soyer, which was meticulously researched.I also have her support, along with Sinead McCoole another well regarded Irish historian.
In fact the BBC may well dramatise Cowans book next year.
The Panel of Chefs of Ireland and the Institute will also lend support.The catering group Compass, are also interested in helping promote the idea.
Yes- I am aware of Soyers works- but the crucial plans- the Famine Kitchen plans, are unavailable. which is a pity- there are plans of the wagons he designed to carry the soup to towns and outlying villages, but that is all.
I’m hoping that some where out in cyberspace, there maybe someone who has access to the original drafts.
If you would like to get involved, please do not hesitate to e-mail me at casadh@gmail.com or the folans@eircom.net
The more support I get, the more likely it will happen.
Kindest regards,
Colm.