You know what's coming next don't you? The book has just come out and yesterday, for the first time in months, I go to the market in Market Harborough. As I say to the boys after I haven't been for a while "Something's calling me". So I present myself at my favourite stall and just as I look up from a 1938 Bartholomew's map of Wharfedale I see the owner sifting through a pile of things he'd just been given for sale. In a fraction of a second I saw the above. "Hang on" I heard myself saying hoarsely.
Not only is it the same stock butcher's bag (with slightly different folds on the cows and sheep) it's from a place I've only quite recently discovered, also mentioned in the book. Wimbleton's isn't there any more, but if it's food you're after in Porthleven's Fore Street then there's The Corner Deli, Top Chippy and Twisted Currant.
11 comments:
Not for the first time, I am speechless. But, pausing, I say, not for the first time, some more. Which is that I did wonder whether this bag itself could have started life as a generic bag for butchers, produced by some enterprising printer or bag-man, with a standard piece of pastoral artwork, to which they would add the name of any butcher who wanted it. Pure speculation, inspired by the way the type to me looks slightly "plonked down". But maybe Wimbleton's themselves were just incredibly enterprising...
Yes Phil, this is a stock (generic) bag. The sort of thing a butcher would see at a wholesaler of equipment and could get 'Your Name Here' printed on it.
Two pounds of Chipolatas and half a pound of Lean Mince, please, Peter.
Please pack in one of those lovely bags that you have illustrated on your Blog.
Your excellent latest book, "English Allsorts", is on its way to me, courtesy of The Royal Mail ("The GPO").
I look forward to a damn good read and a Supper of chipolatas and mince.
Well done you - what a beautiful thing.
Certainly Zeph. I shall wrap your order in one of the pieces of butcher's greaseproof paper as seen in the original Unmitigated England.
Biff: It is beautiful ain't it? Thinking of framing it.
Pastoral perfection - and telephone numbers must have been easy to remember in those days (not that we need to remember them any more...)
My mum came to the UK in the 1950s and the phrase 'Family Butchers' was something that always amused her, in a macabre sort of way.
An old friend of mine would have loved this....He spent one evening drawing what one of these bags would have on it. "It's got to have a turkey strutting in front" he said. Though this bag hasn't, it's lovely. I've never seen a coloured one before they were usually black or navy on brown paper.
Do you think they might make a come back since the charging for plastic has come in? Primark seem to do okay with paper ones, not meat I know.....
Ooh! How absolutely lovely Peter, you lucky thing! I too dream of sausages wrapped in butchers greaseproof paper and held tightly with that nice coloured butchers string. Wouldn't it be fine to find one of those bags for Jack Jones, high class butcher of Walmington-on-Sea? I too await a delivery from postie of your new book, can't wait! Well done Sir, ttfn Dickie
Sue: I've seen a calendar for a post office with 'Oundle 1' on it. And thank you, I shall never see 'Family Butchers' in the same light again. Ever.
Fiona: You're right, colour is rare. A butcher in Ashbourne had beautiful white bags with blue print until recently I think.
Dickie: Thank you. You've now got me going about Jack Jones. Maybe I'll have a go at producing a bag as a print.
Aha
Porthleven. My last visit was to extract two and a half motosickles from a shed. Left diplo hall early, arrived Porthleven 08.00 hrs and was back by tea time.
Marvellous, very good, carry on.
Ah yes Diplo. I remember. Fancy it being Porthleven.
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