Sparkes' Bakery
I used to work for the family firm of E. O. Putley & Son in Ryecroft Street. My Dad started the firm around 1965. I used to visit as a child and started working there in 1980. I always remember that the highlight of any visits as a kid and, as an employee, was the morning “crib time” or teabreak.
The reason was that our treat was a “dripping cake” from the famous Sparkes’ Bakery down the road!
“Drips” (as they were known) were simply scrumptious – thin dark brown pastry tops with air holes in the centre pastry and thick gooey, toffee-like stuff on the bottom. If you were lucky, you got one with loads of goo!
People from all over Tredworth and the whole of Gloucester used to come by Ryecroft Street at around 10.30 to collect them; at times the whole street was blocked up with cars and vans and the queue often ran outside the shop door and down the street.
You can find recorded reminiscence about Sparkes’ Bakery here.
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When I would come home for a visit from the USA one thing I always wanted first was a Sparkes Dripping Cake with my morning cup of tea.
I used to buy a dripping cake every morning before school, from the back of where they were baked before they were sold in the shop. They were always nice and hot and I was always lucky to get the crunchy sticky toffy tasting one. They got to know me. This was back in 1972 on my way to Hatherley Girls School. I so miss the dripping cakes (I live in Australia now)
Looking for the recipe my family owned Hobbs Greengrocers Barton Street
My Mum used to work here!
Has anyone ever recreated that amazing Drip recipe and if so please share! Such fond memories.
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