Grasmere Gingerbread return to Cumbrian Market in Whitehaven

Yasmine Hunter, marketing manager at Grasmere Gingerbread, said: "Sarah Nelson founded the gingerbread [company] in 1854 in Church Cottage in Grasmere in the heart of the Lake District. Dhe was a female entrepreneur of her time and was a hard-working Cumbrian lady.

"She then created the now world-famous spicy, sweet, Grasmere Gingerbread and it's still baked there in her former home Church Cottage which used to be a private school for boys where William Wordsworth used to teach.

"We still make it there 161 days of the year to the same secret recipe."

Grasmere Gingerbread (Image: Newsquest)

Yasmine continued: "We're very excited to be coming back to Whitehaven, the history of the port in the 18th century played a big part in the Cumbrian food history. 

"It was the second biggest port outside of London and that was how all the sugar and spices came into the area and how Cumbria started its food history.

"This was then transported around the area by pack horse and that is how Sarah got her hand on the ingredients to make the gingerbread. 

Joanne Wilson in the Original Grasmere Gingerbread Bakery and shop (Image: Newsquest)

"One of the products that we make is a Cumbrian rum butter, made with Lamb's Navy Rum, and obviously the rum came into Whitehaven from the West Indies."

Local businessman Gerard Richardson MBE, who works with the town council to host the markets in St Nicholas Gardens, said: "Grasmere Gingerbread are great old friends of ours and to be honest, they are the rock stars of the county's retail trade.

"You can visit their gorgeous shop any day of the year bar Christmas Day and there are queues outside for their unique gingerbread, rum butter, and a host of other ginger-based products."

Grasmere Lakeland Sports and Show held at Grasmere Sports Field, Grasmere - Laura Wyatt from Grasmere Gingerbread (Image: Newsquest)

The Cumbrian Markets are held on the last Friday of each month through the summer in St Nicholas Gardens and tabletops or Gazebo space is free of charge.

They are now in their fourth successful year and are part of Whitehaven Town Council's plans to entice more people back into the town centre and to support existing and new traders. Other aspects of the plans include exhibitions, continental markets, and science shows.

Any Cumbrian trader who makes or creates their own items for sale and who wants to trade at the markets is invited to email clerk@whitehaventowncouncil.co.uk