If you aren't in the neighbourhood their website is also worth a visit: www.hrp.org.uk/HamptonCourtPalace and my absolute top favourite website is: www.historicfood.com. Another good website with a wealth of information is: www.the-tudors.org.uk

Another idea you may not have considered is contacting someone creating full-size items. Recently a customer rang me and said that she had seen a TV programme where the celebrity chef made a dish that she would like recreated in miniature - had I seen the show?

Er, no, I hadn't! What to do? Go to the source! I contacted the celebrity chef via his website and explained my dilemma - he emailed me straight back and told me to contact Ivan Day at Historic Food as it had actually been him that made the dish. Mr. Day mailed me a photograph complete with details of how he made the dish! I was able to recreate and post it the very next day for a very surprised and very happy customer.

The Tudors, 1485-1603

The rich lived very well indeed and spent a great deal of money on food, fabrics, tapestries, fashions and paintings. They also ate very well. However, their diet was very rich in sugar and therefore they had black and rotten teeth! Sugar was carved from large sugar cones.