In the farthest corner of the kitchen, there are two small doors side by side. The first leads to the larder, and the other to the pantry. The pantry door is often left open in order to let in more light; the larder has to remain closed as much as possible in case of flies.

Both rooms are very similar in layout, with tiled walls, while shelves on the left-hand wall in the larder take the place of the sinks and draining-board on the right-hand wall in the pantry. The larder, however, is practically full.

The floor is covered in boxes of the week's fruit and vegetables, the former, more fragile, stacked slantwise on top of the latter. Under the lower shelves are rags and buckets, brass-polish, shoe-polish and general cleaning paraphernalia. The lower shelves hold rows upon rows of labelled glass jars — jam, honey, preserved fruit, pickles, chutney. Above this, on the main surface, are three large bottles of vinegar in the corner and various covered plates and bowls holding recent leftovers and scraps awaiting use; the end of a joint, bits of boiled bacon, half a chopped cabbage, a small quantity of sauce. A cake-tin at the end of the shelf holds half a sponge cake, and, stacked on top of it, a biscuit-tin that once advertised its contents as a Continental Assortment has been refilled with a quantity of somewhat crumbly shortbread. Higher up, two small shelves hold dried herbs and spices, and cake decorations ranging from silver balls to rolled marzipan, coconut and cochineal. Even the windowsill is occupied — by various salad items and three boxes of eggs.

In contrast, the pantry is practically Spartan. It contains nothing except the two white sinks at waist-height and a cupboard on the opposite wall holding an assortment of cutlery. A rail on the back of the door holds a fresh tea-towel, and the space between the sink and the doorway is normally taken up by a stack of clean washing-up laid out to dry on the draining-board. Unlike the larder, the floor is clear here, and it is actually possible to walk into the room and stand at the window while washing up.

From the sink there is a view out over the gardens. The top of the laburnum tree just below the window hides everything close by, but the view out past the sundial to the borders beyond is literally a breath of fresh air, particularly in the summer when the gardens are in full bloom and cooking is a hot and tiresome chore. It is not, however, a good idea to allow oneself to become too distracted. The stone floor is very unforgiving of dropped crockery; besides, it is always possible to crack the sink.