The Georgian dining room at Strangers' Hall

This room was built in the Tudor period but was redesigned in the latest style when Strangers' Hall became the official lodging house for the assize judges in 1748. The deep sash windows, painted wall panelling, decorated overmantel and plaster ceiling were all installed at this time, the beautiful chandelier dates from around the late 1700s.

Much of the furniture is made of mahogany, which was available in Britain from the 1720s and became the height of fashion in the Georgian period. The close grain of the wood allowed for the delicate carving seen in the chair backs and settee legs, the dining chairs are based on Thomas Chippendale's designs and have wide seats to accommodate the wide skirts of fashionable ladies.

During this period dinner was served at around 3 o'clock, and usually consisted of 2 main courses followed by dessert. There could be up to 16 different dishes brought out for each course; with such a rich diet it's no surprise that many people suffered with gout. See if you can spot the specially designed gout stool when you visit.