Norman food and wine

The Normans brought much of their culture from Normandy to England, including 'exotic' food and drink.

Rabbits were not commonplace in England until the Normans began to breed them in constructed warrens known as 'cunicularia'-or 'coneygarths' in English. But these animals were not bread as pets, they were destined for the cooking pot. The young rabbits were prized most for their tender meat, and were a luxury item - costing up to four or five times as much as a chicken.

As well as Rabbits, the Normans were also partial to munching on another rather strange looking creature - the lamprey. This eel-like creature was found in fresh and coastal waters and was considered a great delicacy.