MEMORIES
The older generation would perhaps remember the fresh hot bread being delivered to the door by the baker with the horse and cart. Nothing beat the smell of the fresh bread, and the horse knew when to move to the next house and wait. The transactions were by cash and it the late 1940’s a loaf cost 6d (pence), about 5c today. There was no such thing as sliced bread – that was done at home. High Top loaves broke apart in the middle – you could buy half a loaf, and children liked to eat the ‘kiss crust’, the soft centre when the halves were pulled apart.
It was common to call to the bakers and buy the bread from the bakery door, and the cream or fruit buns were very special. In those days Hot Cross Buns were a treat at Easter – available only at that time.
In some families it was said that “Girls could not get married until they could cut the bread straight.” It was not easy, especially as fresh bread was soft (and delicious).
Some bakers would cook the Christmas ham for their customers in the country. The ham would most likely be from their own pigs, and smoked at home, and then wrapped in dough by the baker, and cooked in his oven. A special treat at Christmas, the only time most families had ham.