All of the rooms in our homes are any more important than the kitchen? It’s where we store, cook and usually eat food and is the hub of parties and everyday social interactions for families and friends alike. Today, there’s lots of things that make up a standard Kitchen, including a refrigerator, oven, microwave, toaster, etc, but most of these are relatively modern inventions, so what did a kitchen look like 500 years ago?

These images show how kitchens have evolved in that time, from Tudor England right up to the 2020, when these rooms will be even busier than ever thanks to an increase in lockdown baking and cooking, with families all spending more than normal at home together. We can be very grateful that our kitchens are rather more comfortable and cosy than they were in the 16th Century, when the only warmth came from the open fire in the hearth, which was used for cooking, roasting and heating.

At least by Stuart times in England, there were a few decorative touches to brighten up the functional gloom and make the kitchen a room people might want to be in for longer than strictly necessary. By the time we reach America in the 18th Century, the kitchen is a far cosier place, particularly with squashes and pumpkins adding to the color palette, while actual chairs have arrived to encourage people to gather there socially.

The things we associate with a modern kitchen started to arrive in Victorian times, like the oven and the sink as well as cabinets for storing crockery, and by the 1960s the fridge had made a welcome arrival to add a convenient way to keep food and milk cold and fresh. Coming up to the modern day and we have what feels like the perfect balance of style and function, but what could happen to our kitchens over the next 500 years?