After seeing the Pineapple folly (extra) on Monday I decided to make the pineapple owl as part of the meal for our visitors today. 
In the 16th and 17th centuries pineapples were a symbol of status, power and wealth and pineapples would be added to gateposts to show that wealthy travellers had returned home.  It became a popular decoration on railings and buildings by architects and a real pineapple on the table was regarded with wonder. In 1761 the 4th Earl of Dunmore had built a pavilion in 1761 as a present for his wife so that she could admire their large walled garden.  When the Earl returned from serving as Governor of Virginia he added the pineapple dome in 1777 as an elaborate way to announce his wealth and return back to his estate.
Unlike those people of 200 years ago I did not need to dip into my savings to buy this very juicy pineapple as it cost only £1.