This case is full of liquorice boxes created in and around Pontefract throughout history.
On the left hand side of the case there is a small cardboard box with green stripes, and the text ‘Dunhill’s Original Pontefract Cakes / Est 1760’ on it.
Pontefract cakes are liquorice-flavoured sweets in the form of small black discs, often stamped with an image of a castle gate.
This packaging refers to the story that they were invented by George Dunhill in 1760. Although it is possible that George Dunhill did invent the Pontefract Cake, he was only 7 years old in 1760!
It seems more likely that that Pontefract Cakes date from nearer 1800.
The Dunhill family had an apothecary business and also
rented part of Pontefract Castle where they grew liquorice. The two businesses were
actually connected, as the traditional use for liquorice was in medicine. Liquorice
does in fact contain a chemical that can treat coughs, ulcers and constipation,
though it can be dangerous in very large amounts!
Through the 18th Century Pontefract became a centre for growing medicinal liquorice. It became so important that there were laws against taking the buds out of the town. For medicinal use liquorice root extract was made into small pastilles that were dissolved in water.
From around 1800, liquorice was also being made into sweets in Pontefract. Liquorice is already very sweet, much sweeter than sugar. Adding extra sugar to the liquorice extract makes it chewable, and hence the first sweet was invented.
Pontefract Cakes proved incredibly popular. Liquorice growing in Pontefract
boomed and lots of other companies began making the sweets. By 1900 there were
at least a dozen liquorice factories employing 9,000 workers, mainly women. The
demand for liquorice was so great that it had to be imported from Spain and
Turkey.
Then, the Second World War stopped production completely. Sugar was rationed and imports from the Mediterranean were cut off. The liquorice that was available was needed just for medicines instead. Pontefract's liquorice factories switched over to war
work, repairing tanks and aeroplane engines.
Today there are still 2 liquorice sweet factories in Pontefract, Haribo (who bought up the original Dunhill's company) and Valeo Confectionary.
Click here for a range of liquorice-inspired craft vlogs to try at home!
Click here for a range of digital jigsaws, including ones of colourful liquorice packaging
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