could it be a real place or just something along the lines of ‘The Big Rock Candy Mountain’; a fantasy destination full of all the things you love best, where hens lay soft boiled eggs and there are natural springs of lemonade? During a recent episode of The Great British Bake Off it was said that Bermondsey had once been known as ‘Biscuit Town’, and amazingly – it’s true!
James Peek and George Hender Frean founded Peek Frean at Dockhead, just off Jamaica Road in 1857. Many of the famous lines we still know today were invented by them: Garibaldi in 1861, Marie in 1875, Chocolate Table (the first chocolate-coated biscuit) in 1899 and the classic Bourbon in 1910.
When their Dockhead factory burned down in 1873, the enormous production machine moved to Drummond Road. It was at this point that Bermondsey became known as ‘Biscuit Town’.
By the 1940s Peek Frean was a powerhouse, employing over 4,000 people directly. Located so close to Surrey Docks and the railway line, the factory was perfectly placed to import the best ingredients from all over the colonies and equally well-placed to export the biscuits back again.
Perhaps so long ago the story drifted over to hobo travellers in America, of a town that just made fabulous foods and inspired the Big Rock Candy legend, ‘a land of milk and honey, where you can stay for many a day and you won’t need any money’.
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WINES with provenance
Selling to both trade and public, local wine specialists have re-opened their doors as the 'Lant Street Wine Company' with a fabulous RIVER Reader 'Wine Club'
Category: Food&Drink -
BISCUIT town
Sounds like a dream… Where is this place?
Category: Food&Drink -
turkish DELIGHTS - #1: Iskender Kebap
Getting to know Turkey through it's food, drink and hospitality at Kilikya's in St Katharine Docks
Category: Food&Drink -
SHIPBUILDING at Surrey Quays
The Surrey Quays Shopping Centre; its past, present and future
Category: Style -
EVER HopeFull Rep.
“Youth is the gift of nature, but age is a work of art”
Category: Culture -
Entertainments Listings
Autumn 2015 season listings
Category: Culture -
bermondsey street FESTIVAL 2015
The village fête in the city returns Saturday 19th September
Category: Culture -
THREE DAYS in the country
John Simm leads a fantastic ensemble cast at the National
Category: Culture -
pencils DOWN
With a first prize of £8,000, who will win the coveted Jerwood Drawing Prize?
Category: Culture -
pure EXCELLENCE
A relentless drive for outstanding performance is behind the progress at Walworth Academy
Category: Education -
OUTSTANDING in all areas
The Dominie, a co-educational school for children with dyslexia and dyspraxia
Category: Education -
330 YEARS & Girls Allowed
A year to be proud of; an exceptional past and a promising new future at Archbishop Tenison's School in Kennington
Category: Education -
PRIME school
Southwark's Free Primary School has links to the meadows and woodland of Pickhurst’s Forest School and lots more new facilities on site too
Category: Education -
THREE schools in one
In just five years an east London school has been transformed into a beacon of aspiration
Category: Education -
CREATIVITY & collaboration
Lambeth's Poetry School is the place for the aspiring wordsmith
Category: Education -
'A' STAR students
Year on year success for the girls at St Saviour's & St Olave's
Category: Education -
Education Open Day Events
Open day events at local schools this Autumn
Category: Education -
what's your property WORTH?
With interest rates due to rise, when is best time to sell?
Category: Property -
the rise of ROTHERHITHE
The gateway to other worlds
Category: Property -
Autumn 2015
Category: Editions