'Sheffield has shaped history of UK food industry'

Catherine, Jeanette, Malcolm, Richard, Neil and Pam were at the book launch

A community-led project has launched a book about the culinary history of Sheffield and how the city has shaped Britain's food for more than a century.

Dungworth, Bradfield & District Heritage Group members have spent the last few years working on The Unsung Flavours of Sheffield.

Neil Anderson, who compiled the book, said: "We're known for steel, music - we don't often get associated with food brands. Hopefully this will remind people there is more to Sheffield food than just Henderson's."

He said it was a "celebration" of food brands and innovators like Bassett's, Thornton's, Simpkin's and Henderson's Relish, whose origins had been uncovered through interviews and research by the group.

The project was commissioned by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, who supplied a £46,920 grant after the idea came up during lockdown.

All proceeds will go to Stannington Community Library, which held a launch event on Wednesday.

The project has also included outreach work in local schools, the creation of a heritage food trail and community events with local organisations like Sheffield and District African Caribbean Community Association.

'Delighted'

Richard Godley, who led the project, said the group had run a trip to the Dungworth dairy farm Our Cow Molly with pupils from St Joseph's School in Ainsworth.

He said: "Kids don't necessarily know where food comes from, so we wanted to highlight that - we got to show them what dairy farming is about and they had an ice cream."

Our Cow Molly is one of many local food businesses which "were very family-run, family-orientated and still are," Mr Godley added.

"That's the core to many of them."

He said the book, which is available online, was for anyone with an interest in the history of both food and local industry.

As well as the well-known links to Henderson's Relish, Sheffield was home to the manufacture of Bassett's sweets, Thornton's chocolates and Simpkin's traditional sweets.

Catherine Croney, who researched for the book, created the trail and the children's activity pack, said she was "absolutely delighted" with the project.

Catherine Croney and trustee Malcolm Nunn were among those commissioned to deliver the project

"It is trying to raise awareness I think of the food industry in Sheffield to a younger audience," she said.

"I think it is really important so they can understand how important it was to the city."

Her family had helped out on the project, including her daughter who had worked on illustration and design elements.

"It's been a sort of family effort, and we've given opportunities for other people in the community," Ms Croney added.

"I'm so proud to have been involved."

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