Coventry Bakers and Bakeries

Helllo again LongfordLad. My father-in-law worked for Jones bakery, delivered round Elmsdale Ave area 1950-53 time. Even in the thirties we kids used to hang on to the back of Jones cart down Jackers Road. I don't know about the bakers, but the milkmen during the war were ordered to cut their rounds down to about two local streets, swopping customers over with each other, to save fuel, time or whatever. But we kids used to say Longford is ok but 'Hacketts' was a dead loss.

I remember Savages bakery that used to be in Argyle Street behind St Margaret's Church on Ball Hill. I lived in Marlborough Road and one of the bakers, Stan Clements lived opposite to me, his lad Tony was my mate. Savages used to park their vans behind his house, they were sometimes left open and we used to play in them.

Hi did you by any chance know Rosline Robinson who lived in Bennett's road Keresley? NkR

Hi Judy, I used to work at your dad's bakery as well, what a great place to work. I worked in the cake department and my manager was Johnny Andrews. My name is Ty, look forward to hearing from you.

Hello & welcome, Ty Hope that you enjoy your time with us.

Hello TY. I didn't work at Suttons but my wife did. I got to know a few employees including John Andrews, Banger Bill in the maintenance, also Philip Hughes and Les ????, electricians and Sue Roughton, secretary.

Hi Norman, yes I knew them all. What is your wife's name and what department did she work?

Jones's Bakery in mid 60's. My mate Alan Quinney was delivery boy and I took over for a few months when he packed it in. He reminded me that the old guy who drove the Morris Minor delivery van was Albert Sparks who lived in Booths Fields. I remember the round was around Longford & Exhall & I distinctly remember going along Blackhorse Lane.

I have seen an advertisement in the "Coventry Standard" 13th July 1861 which describes a newly-opened bakery, "Rider and Betts, Steam Bread Works, Coventry", which produced "Aerated Bread by Dr Dauglish's Patent Process". The advert describes a bread made with no ferment at all including yeast or barm, and highlights its purity, tastiness, lightness and nutritional qualities. It also describes the cleanliness of the process, with the product being untouched by the bakery workmen. I understand that aerated bread nationally remained popular for almost the next hundred years. I wonder where the Coventry Steam Bread Works was located, and how long it remained in business?

There is mention of them opening a shop at 6 The Burges. They are still going in 1912 as there is mention of a removal company moving to 24 West Orchard "opposite Ryder and Betts". It sounds like some sort of Soda Bread and was obviously very popular. They are still there in 1918 when one if the ovens caught fire.

Apologies if someone has already mentioned this but I clearly remember the glass cases inside Gladdings shops, displaying their chocolate cakes and goodies, such as Walnut Whips. As a special treat we occasionally had one of their little individual trifles. Also in Wimbush's I loved their pineapple tarts with yellow icing on the top. There was a Gladdings on Daventry Road on the parade of shops there.

Ty. Sorry that it's taken me so long to reply. My wife's real name is Rosemary but has had the nickname Sue for many years and that is how she likes to be known. Exactly what she did I really don't know and she isn't here at the moment for me to ask. I think she was a bit of a "floater" as she has told me about injecting jam into doughnuts and running a tray wash machine and nicking pasties for her lunch as soon as they came out of the oven.

Hi Norman, thanks for the reply. Does she know the people working in the cake department at the time and if so who did she know. I cannot remember a Sue. I started there in 1978, was Sue there then?

A photo of my Gran delivering bread and cakes for Pails & Son's Bakery. (1950's ?)