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Salamander would be heated in the fire until red hot and held close to the pastry to scorch it. Used at The Swan, Stibbington, Cambridgeshire.
A salamander, used for browning cakes and pastries. It consists of an iron bar, ending in a flat plate at one end and a round knob at the other. It would be heated in the fire until red hot and then held close to the pastry to scorch it. This salamander was used at The Swan (now the Haycock Inn) in Stibbington, Cambridgeshire. It is part of the collection of John Lester Gilbert, a botanist and local historian from Wansford in Cambridgeshire.

1 salamander: metal (iron); good condition

MERL 'Handwritten accession' form (Institute of Agricultural History) – 'Recorder: JMB // Date: 14.10.86 // Description: Heavy iron object with straight handle which has a knob at the end. // Dimensions: Length: 88.0 cm length of head: 13.0 cm Width of head: 7.0 cm // Associated information: Used for browning cakes & pastries after it has been heated in the fire. // Used at the Haycock Inn when was called The Sawn, Stibbington, Nr. Peterborough // Part of the collection of Mr J. L. Gilbert’, Letter, F. Mary Gilbert to MERL, 5 August 1986 – ‘Dear Sirs, // On looking through my late brother’s papers etc, I understand he wished two items from his museum to be given to your Museum of English Rural Life. // 1. Drenching Bottle used for giving medicine to horses etc. c 1760–1800. Dredged from the River Nene 2.3.1940. Coll. J. L. Gilbert. O.S.5. (I believe you identified this object for my brother years ago or dated it for him!) // 2. Salamander, used in the Haycock Hotel Kitchen, 18th century – 35 ins long // As I do not drive & the salamander is heavy – I wondered if anyone ever came this way & would be kind enough to call & collect them. // … // I enclose copy of one of my dear brother’s obituary. // Yours sincerely // F. Mary Gilbert // sister of John Lester Gilbert’