Cadbury's Cocoa Essence

Cadbury's Cocoa Essence

Spotted in York Castle museum, York.

Cadbury's began in 1824 when John Cadbury opened a Grocer's in Birmingham. Among his products was cocoa and drinking chocolate. Fast forward to 1842 and the shop was selling 16 types of drinking chocolate and 11 varieties of cocoa.

In 1866 The Cadbury brothers had taken over the shop and bought an innovative dutch press which could mass produce cocoa powder. The way the press worked meant no more starchy additives added to the essence and transformed the British cocoa business. They could now market it as "Absolutely pure. Therefore best" which boosted sales and flung the company forwards from small business to worldwide cocoa producer. Who knows, without the cocoa essence maybe another company would have bought the dutch press and we'd all be eating Gray's Dairy Milk instead.

Personally I don't like the Bourneville pure cocoa today, I find it quite grainy so I always go for Asda's own brand or the co-op fairtrade.


More info about the history of Cadburys;  Cadbury - the story

Police Station, Leek

Leonard Street Police station and superintendents house, Leek.

Carved in stone with decorated shield, columns and archway with stained glass.

Built in 1891 by Sugden and Son, probably the last building they completed together before the Father's death in 1892. A beautiful old building with turrets that wouldn't look out of place at Hogwarts. And if you had a hankering to live here you could because it's now been converted into flats. I've no idea if the former cells have also been converted, but it's be a fun story. I suppose the entrances are around the back but just imagine inviting guests over and opening that big, black door with the stained glass windows above it.

Leek is a great little market town full of dogs and it seems like every weekend there is another festival and the local radio station are set up in the square. There was a huge wild west festival in the summer with a line dancing tent, wild west town set up in the park and a shootout! Great fun! Classic cars and military vehicles are regular visitors up and down the pedestrianised shopping centre and food festivals are happening most market days. You'd be unlucky to arrive on a weekend when nothing was happening. Tons of charity shops, antique shops, tea-rooms and an indoor market that's still going strong. If you're looking for a day out with your granny and your dog you'll like it here.

Look at the town council sign and the coat of arms.

more about Leek here: http://www.leekonline.co.uk/ and the history here; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leek,_Staffordshire
For what's going on in Leek; http://www.leektowncouncil.co.uk/

Slaughterhouse Bar, Shambles Tavern

Slaughterhouse Bar, Ye old Shambles Tavern, the Shambles, York.

Ye old shambles tavern is located in the Shambles, said to be the best preserved medieval street in Europe. Originally a street of butchers, animals were slaughtered at the back of the premises hence the name 'slaughterhouse bar'. It's a 15th street and to protect the meat from direct sunshine the buildings were built close together and actually lean inwards. It's a huge tourist draw and always full of tour groups with camera and audio tours.

The Shambles Tavern serves around 60 different types of bottled beer from 16 micro breweries. Ask what kind of ales they have and you'll be taken to choose from a massive selection! They also served quite delicious food when we stopped there for some lunch. Recommended.

Another fun fact, back in the 15th century there was so much offal and blood around the place that twice a week it was washed right down the centre of the street. Literally a river of blood and guts. Pretty disgusting.

More information about the shambles here http://www.insideyork.co.uk/what-to-see/shambles.html  and here; http://www.historyofyork.org.uk/themes/medieval/the-shambles
As far as I know the bar itself doesn't have a website but they do have a facebook page; https://www.facebook.com/YeOldShamblesTavern/timeline