Milly & Dottie: Is There Custard For Tea?

Tuesday, 17 September 2013

Is There Custard For Tea?

June 1947 - Custard Pie anyone?

Come tea'o'clock you will find us in the Stockroom, hands wrapped round our afternoon cuppa, fingers dipping into the custard creams tin and eyes drooling over our stash of 1940s Housewife magazines. Slowly, ever so slowly, both the biccies and magazines are savoured. From cover to cover, front to back these 1940s gems are digested as part of our afternoon tea break.

July 1944 - not a piece of fruit in sight

A recurring theme has emerged, for alongside the daily ritual, there on the back pages of many an issue are these wonderful advertisements for Bird's Custard, the backdrop to everyone's childhood. These images reflect so much of the time, the austerity and shortage of ingredients, the simplicity of recipes but above all the homeliness of home. Jelly and custard, custard and stewed fruit, steamed pudding with jam and custard, a glace cherry and angelica flourish, simple or fancy, a comforting pud all year round.