How the revival of Pimbletts bakery tells a story of deindustrialisation in the north-west town of St Helens. Words and images by Jennifer Jasmine White.
Poignant, compelling and profoundly honest piece. Thank you, although it makes me want to weep. Vittles is a reminder of how rare honest journalism of this kind is. Almost as rare as a good pie …
Researching one of my many family trees, I discovered that I was probably a distant cousin of Mary Pimblett (nee Mercer), via her mother Jane Mercer (nee Houghton).
It also came to light that perhaps the secret recipes came from the Mercer side of the family, as her father Samuel Mercer was listed as a grocer and baker, previously a cooper and his father had been an inn keeper. Jane's step-father on the other hand had been a butcher. Jane is also listed as assisting in the business in 1911.
Mary's siblings also had a finger in the pies so to speak; her brother John Mercer listed as a baker in 1921. Her sister Jane Hayes is listed as a confectioner in 1921, as was her sister Sarah Heaton and also her sister Lily Parr, both confectioners in 1921.
But Mercer's Pies don't have the same ring as Pimblett's Pies.
Poignant, compelling and profoundly honest piece. Thank you, although it makes me want to weep. Vittles is a reminder of how rare honest journalism of this kind is. Almost as rare as a good pie …
Beautifully written, thank you.
Researching one of my many family trees, I discovered that I was probably a distant cousin of Mary Pimblett (nee Mercer), via her mother Jane Mercer (nee Houghton).
It also came to light that perhaps the secret recipes came from the Mercer side of the family, as her father Samuel Mercer was listed as a grocer and baker, previously a cooper and his father had been an inn keeper. Jane's step-father on the other hand had been a butcher. Jane is also listed as assisting in the business in 1911.
Mary's siblings also had a finger in the pies so to speak; her brother John Mercer listed as a baker in 1921. Her sister Jane Hayes is listed as a confectioner in 1921, as was her sister Sarah Heaton and also her sister Lily Parr, both confectioners in 1921.
But Mercer's Pies don't have the same ring as Pimblett's Pies.