The deeds to the main shop show it was built around 1900.  In 1924 it was run by Mrs Weston and called The Devonshire Bakery, and there was stabling for the delivery horse at the back.  Essex Record office hold a photograph of this stretch of the road taken in 1909 just before the pavements were made up and it shows the building in the background.

My parents bought this business from Mr Gilbert in 1957.  This included the bakery and shop at 1155 London Road, Leigh on Sea and the small shop at 879a London Road, Chalkwell, and we lived above the main shop in the flat which is now offices.  

 

After leaving school I went to the National Bakery School at Borough Polytechnic and then joined the business in 1973.  My parents retired in the late 1980's and I now run the business with my wife, Pat.  I am a sixth generation baker, so I would like to think some talent has been passed down in my genes.  

About 20 years ago we were thinking we must get around to refitting and modernising the shop - but couldn't afford it.  Then customers started commenting how much they liked the shop being old fashioned and how it is exactly the same as when they came in as a child, and now they are bringing their own children in.

I am proud to be an old fashioned baker, using old fashioned methods. I do not believe in pre-mixes and I use many recipes designed by my father.  One recipe is considerably older - we still make Christmas puddings to a recipe used by my great grandmother when she was a cook in the late 1800's.  We sell exceptionally good bread and cakes with, we hope, exceptionally good service.