RE: HARDINGS BAKERY - 3

Colin,

If you nick down to Evesham on the High Street, I think roughly opposite Oat Street you will find a shop that sells the object of your desire. I have to take the wife there occasionally just to buy some Lardy cakes. She swears they are great, I wouldn't know as I don't eat cakes,

Phil

I shall have to come up from essex and have a day out in evesham cheers phil.
colin

I bet you posh people in Sheldon wish that the serfs still delivered the bread every day like they did in these days. It must be an utter bore to have to travel down to the local provisioner to collect your own bread.

Phil

I don't know where it's kept but in the 1970's I think it was, Milanda's who took over from Hardings had a bread van like the one in your picture fully restored. The work I understand was done by some apprentices, though I am not sure where from.

I do remember we used to have the Co-op Baker deliver to our house, he would have come from the Co-op Bakery in Stechford. I'll always remember the Basket on his arm looked enormous to me. SB

I didn't think she looked that fat.

Phil

Five Stars for that one. Not many people bring their humour down to my level. SB

Phil
Do you ever go to Wedges in Earslwood/Hockley Heath its near to the Bluebell (Cidar House) their fresh bread and cakes are wonderful I love their mincepies at Christmas time you can get all flavours I do prefer the plain ones but you can get Brandy, Guiness etc.,

June

My brother Alf worked for Hardings when he came out of the army in the 40's. Driving a horse and cart. Later he was working for Bradford's, so did Bradford's take over Hardings. By the early fifties when I was at school, I worked with him on his round as a Saturday job. He drove a van then. The round covered much of Handsworthhistory and Handsworthhistory Wood. Very posh in those days. I would be dropped of near Grove Lane at the end of the day, collect my five bob pay, or was it half a crown, and catch the number 70 bus home. Alf drove off to the bakery at the edge of West Bromwhich. He worked as a roundsman for the rest of his life, Bradford's becoming Allied Biscuits and then Allied Bakeries, I believe.

Hi Teddie

Welcome to our forum, small in numbers big in heart, I hope we will be hearing a lot more from you.

Phil

My mum also worked for Kunzle but she didn't like it much. Their cakes were a bit up market and their chocolate was delicious.

Yes welcome

The only thing I remember about Hardings was eating their bread, I thought it made particularly good toast. Though I dare say SB you remember it being delivered in these.

Phil

Oh yes of course I do Phil.
I also remember climbing a great steep hill with a bleedin Hovis.