This room, tucked between the Day Nursery and the Governess’s Room, has a dual function. During school hours, it’s where the children take their lessons, studying from horn-books, illustrated almanacs and maps, and hunching over the abacus. They are also taught to draw and, although the Quartermaines are progressive in terms of education for girls, there is still an expectation that the girls will learn to sew and embroider. Blood, sweat and tears are spilled over the latest samplers; and the boys don’t escape either, because they are expected to read aloud while their sisters work. The governess presides over all, doing her best to encourage and keep focus.
Out of school hours, the room becomes the nursery dining room, decorated with bright, cheerful ceramics. The table is laid with all the classic nursery foods: toad-in-the-hole; steamed puddings; and boiled eggs with soldiers for breakfast. That explains why, below, you’ll find food and crockery alongside the expected educational items.
Sweet It Is: Sampler
A charming little sampler hand-worked by miniaturist Nicola Mascall (2022.224)
Butterfly Identification Charts
Two charts showing butterflies for the schoolroom, by Ken Blythe
Geographical Fun
Delightfully inventive 1868 atlas with witty maps, reproduced by Ken Blythe (2022.192)
Cross Stitch Table
A splendid piece of furniture with a tilt top and slide-out surfaces by Taller Targioni (2022.128)
Your Parents Strict Attention Pay: Sampler
Exquisite sampler on an especially fine weave, worked by Janice Mansfield (2022.113)
Penrhyn Castle: Sampler
A charming little sampler hand-worked by miniaturist Nicola Mascall (2022.114)
Fruit Crumble
A delicious pudding for the nursery, served up by Country Contrast (2022.065)
Pencils and Eraser
Five tiny pencils and a matching eraser for the children’s schoolwork (2022.078.1-3 [black pencils]; 2022.079.1-2 [red pencils]; 2022.080 [eraser])
Bread & Butter Pudding
Another delicious nursery pudding by Country Contrast (2022.062)
Embroidery Hoop
Beautiful floral embroidery in a wooden hoop, hand-stitched by Nicola Mascall (2022.044)
Toad in the Hole for Four
The perfect nursery food, this comforting meal by Dolls House Food is all dished up (2021.137.1-6)
Shepherds Pie for Four
Comforting nursery food in patterned dishes by Dolls House Food (2021.136.1-6)
Quimper Dinner Service for Four
A charming dinner service painted with traditional Breton designs by Victoria Fasken (2021.083)
Boiled Eggs and Soldiers for Four
Comforting and nutritious, this perfect nursery breakfast is the work of Dolls House Food (2021.079.1-80)
Quartermaine Hall 