Henry Chadband has been described as a butcher, a pastry chef, a family baker, and a confectioner. Like many businesses in the Victorian period, his did several different things or changed over time.
Christmas food for the Victorians
The business was successful and a second shop was opened in Leamington Spa. Newspaper adverts tell us Henry was selling pies, sausages and cakes for birthdays and other celebrations. One December advert gives us an idea of the food Victorians ate at Christmas. The advert tells customers that the shop in Smith Street, Warwick, had a good assortment of Christmas pies and cakes available to buy. Wedding and birthday cakes could be made to order.
Records show that Henry’s shop supplied Warwick Castle with 150lbs of cake for a children’s party celebrating Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee. Many businesses in Warwick were involved in supplying the party. The Countess of Warwick invited local school children to the grounds of Warwick Castle for a big celebration, including a fun fair in the evening for the people of Warwick.
13 children
Henry and his wife, Mary lived in Swan Street, Warwick, with their 13 children. Living over the shop with so many children must have been challenging.
The family rented a garden on Linen Street, now called Hill Close Gardens. Henry kept pigs there. It must have been a welcome space for the family to escape to.
Newspapers report Henry was warned not to slaughter pigs at the shop on Swan Street. Perhaps he was able to do this at his Linen Street garden instead. He used pork to make pies and sausages.
This article is part of the Through the Shop Window trail showcasing the links between Warwick businesses and Warwick Castle in the 1800s. Supported by The Friends of Warwickshire County Record Office, The Steven Wallsgrove Legacy and Warwick Town Council.
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