The origins of Afternoon Tea

It is the 7th Duchess of Bedford, one of Queen Victoria’s ladies-in-waiting, who is credited with the invention of Afternoon Tea.

During the 1800’s it was usual for people to take dinner at around 8 or 9 o'clock in the evening, so there was a long period of time between meal times. During the summer at her country residence, the Duchess is said to have complained of a “sinking feeling” during the late afternoon, so the solution for the Duchess was a pot a tea and a light snack, taken privately in her boudoir.

She soon began to invite groups of friends to her rooms at Woburn Abbey. Along with tea, there would be small pastries with clotted cream or preserves, delicate sandwiches and scones. This practice proved so popular that it continued when the Duchess returned to London.

Soon other social hostesses picked up on the idea and the ‘Afternoon Tea’ became respectable enough to move it into the drawing room. Before long all high society ladies were sipping tea, nibbling sandwiches and engaging in light gossip in the middle of the afternoon.

Today it is considered a trend that is still very much a part of British life.

Afternoon Tea at Tiled Hall Café

In keeping with the grand and glorious surroundings of the Tiled Hall built in the era from which Afternoon Tea was originated, we thought it only most fitting to serve this most quintessential and much loved custom of traditional British culture.

Yorkshire Cream Tea - £3.50 per person

Pot of Tea or Coffee for Two
Home Baked Scones with Leyburn Jam
& Northallerton Clotted Cream

Traditional Afternoon Tea for Two - £6.50 per person

Pot of Tea or Coffee for Two
Home Baked Scones with Leyburn Jam
& Northallerton Clotted Cream
Assortment of Finger Sandwiches,
Miniature Cakes & Pastries