Bakeries

The most recent bakery was situated next to the Kings Head Inn, in what is now 13 Bridge Street. The bakery was run by Chris Tweed. Working with him were Page Wilson, Fred Talbot, Joe Wright and John Tweed. Chris specialised in Hovis bread and was also an expert cake maker, winning many prizes for his work. The bakery closed in 1955. 

Before the 'Tweed' bakery, Jessie Pooley ran a bakery from No.15 Bridge Street, where he and his family lived. The bakery together with stables were at the rear of the premises. Bread and cakes would be delivered by a horse drawn cart. Blanche Pooley, daughter of Jessie married Chris Tweed. Eyre and Jeanette Harvey ran the bakery and shop up to about 1908. They had a family of five, three daughters and two sons, one of which was killed in W.W.I. Possibly related to the Harveys that ran the mill in Gazeley. The family moved to Fordham. In 1900 William Bassett ran a bakery in the village.

Bread Deliveries.

Deliveries from the 'Pooley' bakery, Bridge St (1908 to 1924) were carried out by Jessie Pooley himself and later by his son and daughter, Eric and Blanche. 

When Chris Tweed took over from Jessie in 1924, building a new bakery, he and his staff carried out door to door bread deliveries. Chris would be on the round on 'money day'. Deliveries to the village and the surrounding villages were carried out by Fred Talbot assisted by Joe Wright from Ashley and later, John Brown, who lived in Brookside. Joe Wright also worked in bakery itself. Fred covered surrounding areas in his van while Joe delivered to the village on his bicycle.

When Chris Tweed's bakery closed in 1955, Fred took over the round himself, getting his supplies from Haggers of Mildenhall and finally from Westbrooks of Ipswich. As the size of the round changed Fred delivered by himself, he was a familiar sight in the village, travelling his round in his grey van, carrying his wares to the door in a large wicker basket.

John Gunson, Village Recorder