Having bought a 1738 manuscript Cookery Book by John Sheppard (how appropriate) at Hartley's sale room in Ilkley and attended pie making courses by food historian Ivan Day at his home in Shap in Cumbria, and The School of Artisan Cookery near Worksop, we are currently experimenting with interesting recipe suggestions, many of which resemble current popular Middle Eastern cooking full of spices and fruits.
Unfortunately before we could transcribe all the recipes a spaniel puppy chose to eat the velum cover - it cost of £1,000 to restore the book by a wonderful Book Restorer and Specialist Conservator in York. The spaniel has not been forgiven.