112:(5 February 1917 – 28 July 2012) was an English domestic servant who became a television cook and personality. Mott spent most of her life working in country houses with her television work not beginning until the age of 70, when her knowledge of a working Victorian kitchen was used for the television show
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When she left school, at the age of 14, she became a kitchen and scullery maid for the Manor House, owned by the
Waterhouse family. Mott was part of a staff of eight, with a wage of £1 and 5 shillings a month. A year later, in 1932, staff cuts saw Mott leaving the employment of the Waterhouse family,
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With no script and using turns of phrase, Mott spoke to the camera describing bygone methods of preparing and cooking food. She was a success with the viewers, who took to her stories and personality, and the fact that Mott, with her ample figure, strong
Berkshire accent and capable abilities,
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Mott then found herself in demand with
Britain's most popular chat shows and her fame spread when the television series was shown abroad. Mott contributed to a book accompanying the series and in 1990 followed this up with her own book,
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When her daughter, Bertha, was born, Mott became a housewife, only returning to employment in 1957 when Bertha was in school. Mott took an office job in the day, and catered for local functions in her free time.
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to be closer to her parents, both of them then suffering from ill health, in
Yattendon. In 1942 she married Bill Mott, whom she had known since her teen years. Bill was serving in the
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notice. The BBC offered her an audition, then hired her for the role as the head cook. She was joined on the show by Alison
Arnison, who took on the duties of Mott's kitchen maid.
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finding alternative work in nearby
Frilsham House. In 1936 she moved, this time to Lavington Park in Sussex, before circumstances saw her take up employment for
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Mott described the methods she once used, such as plucking birds, skinning hares and using coal-range roasting spits, in her response to the
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Bill died in 1959. Mott continued in her catering and office work until 1970 when she was offered a full-time role as cook-housekeeper at
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at the time. They moved in with her parents to take care of them and Mott took a job collecting insurance premiums for
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304:"Television cook who drew on her service in some of Britain's great houses to re-create The Victorian Kitchen".
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243:. Mott's reputation as a historical cook resulted in her taking on the role as a consultant for
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239:. Mott returned to the BBC in 1993, becoming the "wartime" cook in
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348:. thehorticulturalchannel.info. 3 August 2012. Archived from
281:. Thehorticulturalchannel.info. 2 August 2012. Archived from
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Mott died on 28 July 2012 and was survived by her daughter.
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At the age of 70, Mott replied to an appeal, printed in the
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Revisiting The
Victorian Kitchen Garden location (Video)
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epitomised the positive stereotype of a country cook.
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wished to build on the success of the television show
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310:. No. 48, 908. 25 August 2012. p. 33.
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155:In 1941, Mott took work at a house in
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346:"Ruth Mott: cast and crew tributes"
95:Bill Mott (1942 – 1959) (his death)
279:"Victorian TV Cook Ruth Mott Dies"
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374:. telegraph.co.uk. 9 August 2005
241:The Wartime Kitchen and Garden
32:Mott in her role in the BBC's
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237:Ruth Mott's Favourite Recipes
209:The Victorian Kitchen Garden
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34:Wartime Kitchen and Garden
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436:English television chefs
330:"Ruth Mott: Obituary".
441:People from Yattendon
214:The Victorian Kitchen
114:The Victorian Kitchen
431:English food writers
352:on 20 September 2012
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184:Lord and Lady Iliffe
45:Mildred Ruth Pizzey
334:. 11 August 2012.
196:Women's Institute
190:Television career
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75:(2012-07-28)
73:28 July 2012
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426:2012 deaths
421:1917 births
157:Ashampstead
103:Bertha Mott
415:Categories
265:References
180:Pangbourne
165:Prudential
51:1917-02-05
397:Ruth Mott
378:17 August
356:17 August
332:The Times
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130:Berkshire
126:Yattendon
120:Biography
110:Ruth Mott
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100:Children
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