Lifebuoy was introduced in England by Lever Brothers in 1895, and marketed as a soap that could be used in every part of the house, from the bathroom to the kitchen. It was originally, and for much of its history, a carbolic soap, containing phenol (carbolic acid, a compound extracted from coal tar), but in later versions the phenol was removed Lifebuoy’s popularity reached its peak between 1932 and 1948. After World War Two, when more materials were available and rationing was over, other more appealing soaps began to take hold of…
Tag: Recipes & Home Advice
Grow Fit not Fat on your War Diet!
The Ministry of Food published some food facts in local newspapers during WW2 to encourage readers to ‘Cut of “Extras”, Cut out waste’ and not oto eat more that needed. One interesting suggestion was cooked lettuce! Never thought to try that. I doubt if I will resort to such a drastic method. Perhaps food rationing might solve the obesity crisis today! Mind you it would have economic problems for the supermarkets etc that thrive through our love of food This advert appeared in the Bromley & Kentish Times on 2nd August 1940 (page 3).…
Making Ends Meet
Advert for National Savings Certificates Making Ends Meet Think of Great Britain as one great factory. Working at full pressure its output of goods can be vastly increased. But from this entire output must come both the seeds of the fighting services and the requirements of the rest of us. The Services must come first. The war must be won and in the shortest possible time. This means – and we must face the hard fact – that you and I must go without many of the things we used…
War-Time Sweet Treats – recipes
War-Time Sweet TreaTs When rations meant that sweet treats were few and far between, the local newspaper provided recipes with alternative ingredients. Here are two recipes which were printed in the Bromley and District in August 1940 – Do you dare try them? If you do, please let us know how you get along. Housekeeping in War-Time Sugarless Macaroons Coconut macaroons, beloved by so many adults as well as children can be made without sugar if you use sweetened condensed milk. You will need about half a tin of condensed…
Italian Recipes for Meatless Days – Risotto in Bianco
Another recipe that appeared in the Bromley & District Times in January 1917, was this simple Risotto in Bianco, which helped give ideas to housewives looking to provide an interesting and delicious meal to their family, even though meat was in short supply. Risotto in Bianco 1/2 pound Rice, washed and dried 2 pints of Broth 2oz of Butter (or less if preferred) 2 tbsp Grated cheese Bring the broth to boil, then throw in the rice Boil until the broth is absorbed (about twenty minutes) Remove from the fire and…
Italian Recipes for Meatless Days – Gnocchi alla Romana
By 1917, certain foods were in short supply, especially meat, wheat for bread, butter and sugar. Here is a recipe that appeared in the Bromley & District Times newspaper in January 1917. I liked the elegant suggestions about serving the Gnocchi alla Romana. Definitely for the middle-class housewife who maybe has lost her live-in cook! Gnocchi alla Romana 3/4 pint Water 3/4 pint Milk 1/2 pound Semolina Butter Grated cheese Salt. Boil the semolina in the milk-and-water, with salt to taste for fifteen or twenty minutes, stirring well occasionally…
Oh for an electric dish-washer!
The first dishwasher was invented in the USA in 1857 by Josephine Cochrane (trust a woman to realise the value of such an invention). The first dishwasher in Europe was invented by Miele in 1929, but they did not become commercially popular in Britain until the 1950’s and only for the wealthy at that time. Advert which appeared in the Bromley & Kentish Times, 12th July 1940, page 2
Local schools finally acquire land for gardening purposes
Gardening at Bickley Schools Bickley and Widmore schools reported that at last it was possible to acquire a piece of land for gardening purposes. As it was so late in the season for agricultural classes to begin, it was hardly likely that the Board of Education would make any grant in respect of these classes, and the School Management Committees recommended that the piece of land should be acquired on the terms offered 1 shilling per rod subject to the Board of Education agreeing that the time spent on it…
Strong Protest by Butchers as to the Fair Distribution of Meat
The Meat Supply: Strong Protest by Butchers Supported by Committee The question of the quality of the meat now being supplied to Bromley came up in two letter, which were read to the Mayor. The first, which was addressed to the Executive Officer, was as follows: Dear Sir,- At a meeting of the Meat Trade Section of the Bromley Chamber of Commerce held on Thursday last several members reported having received very serious complaints from their customers as to the inferior quality of the meat supplied. Whilst the butchers are…
No ration card required
In 1918, the British government set out new laws introducing the rationing of certain food; Sugar, meat, flour, butter, margarine and milk, as a way of sharing food equally. However, as this advert shows from World Stores (who had branches at 50 East Street, Bromley and 41 High Street, Orpington), from the Bromley & District Times on 17th May 1918 (page 6), certain foods did not require a ration card to be purchased. NO RATION CARD REQUIRED for any of the the following:- (equal to Meat in food value) Spaghetti (in tomato…