The original brick service area, kitchen building foundation, and location of the cistern platform were discovered during an archaeological investigation that took place prior to the 1980 restoration. This would have been a busy area filled with domestic activity.  Located directly behind the dining room on the brick service area, the kitchen was a separate building with two rooms and a central fireplace.  A coal-burning stove was fitted into the fireplace opening and was used for cooking, as evidence of a coal pile was found nearby.  In the south, kitchens were often built separately to keep heat and cooking odors away from the house.  The cistern was located near the kitchen, and would have contained rainwater collected from the roof.  Cistern water was often used for cleaning, bathing, and cooking.  The brick service area will be reinstalled to its original dimensions.

Reinstalling the brick service area.

Laying the brick edge.