Our room guides tell us that visitors often show a particular interest in certain objects in the house. One that sparks questions is a semi-circular table in the Dining Room. We know it as a Wine Table (sometimes called a Social or Port Table or even a Hunt table), but what was it used for and how old is it?
It’s made of mahogany and dates back to about 1800 – 1830. The tables come apart and can be used as two quarter-circles. We know that the tables would have been wrapped around pillars and used as serving tables for important meals – including a dinner for Repton School Governors.
There’s a bit of debate as to what other uses the table had. One of the intriguing answers was for serving port. Gentlemen guests would return to the House after a ride on the Estate. They’d come in by the fire to find the table in front of the fireplace. Port was served as a well-earned refreshment!
The brass rail topped by finials at the back of the table would have held a curtain which we think would either have protected the faces of the Gentlemen from the heat of the fire or even been used to regulate the temperature of the port.
Look out for the table on your next visit.
Calke Abbey 