The Bakery. Bread and Milk in Steventon
One such was Stocks Lane Farm owned by the Tyrrell family and sold to Mr Deane in the early 1930s.
One such was Stocks Lane Farm owned by the Tyrrell family and sold to Mr Deane in the early 1930s. In the early days milking was by hand, but mechanical milking was steadily introduced saving much time. Jack Deane who took over the farm from his father invested in one of these early milking machines and the manufacturers sign is shown here.
A typical milk bottle from the dairy, of very modest size, is also exhibited here. All milk was delivered in jugs or glass bottles as this was well before the days of plastic. It is good to see proper glass milk bottles coming back into use! In the 1930s
Mr Jacques was the Village baker but sadly died in 1933 when his son Sonny Jacques was only about 15 years old. Instead of training to become a doctor which was his ambition, Sonny had to take on running the Bakery. He did so successfully from then on. All through World War 2 he baked, and he and his wife Enid delivered the bread and cakes to the village by pony and cart providing a vital service. They knew everyone in the village, and everyone’s business! Sonny continued to rise at 5am and bake well into his 70s. His Lardy and Banbury cakes were legendry. Their son John become a doctor so fulfilling his father’s old ambition.
The Jacques’ baking oven and some equipment were moved to By the Meadow Farm where the Bitmead family set up a bakery. They then built the new handsome Steventon Bakery where Sonny’s bread racks, tins and dough tray remain in service, and his lardy cake recipe is still followed.
The Steventon Bakery
