The oven in the entrance hall of the pile-house served several purposes: primarily, it was used to bake bread on baking trays and to keep food warm. It could also be used to dry crops and fish, or damp clothing. And, incidentally, in winter it supplemented the heating provided by the hearth fire in the main room by storing heat like a tiled stove and releasing it over a prolonged period. A truly multifunctional appliance.