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The exact origins of liquorice growing in
England remain uncertain. However, by the 16th century there is record of the activity, possibly via monastic gardens and as a garden crop for the gentry. During the 17th century it was recorded as being grown in areas with alluvial soil overlying
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In the 18th century liquorice was used as a medicine both for humans and for horses. The
Pontefract cake "was almost certainly a black cake, the portable lozenge used to make 'liquorish water', stamped with the castle lodge emblem of Pontefract to signify quality. This trade mark had been
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Originally, the sweets were embossed by hand with a stamp, to form their traditional look (the workers who did this were known as "cakers" and were able to produce upwards of 30,000 per day), but now they are usually machinery formed. The embossed stamp was originally a stylised image of
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With the growth of
Pontefract cakes as confectionery the demand for liquorice outstripped the capacity of Pontefract growers to supply. By the late 19th century the 12 firms producing liquorice confectionery relied mainly on extract imported largely from Turkey.
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In 2004, healthcare professionals warned against overindulgence in
Pontefract cake after a 56-year-old woman was admitted to hospital following an overdose. The woman consumed about 200 grams (7.1 oz) daily, leading to dangerously low
306:, major local landowner; and a second die-stamp from 1720." It was only in the 19th century that it was used extensively for confectionery. Of the merchants in the 18th century,
298:(reproduced by Chartres) the liquorice is indicated as being grown in "garths" either side of Micklegate, the street which runs between Pontefract's Market Place and the castle.
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was held in
Pontefract on 15 August 1872, the ballot box used was sealed using a Pontefract cake stamp from Frank Dunhill's factory, which shows the image of a castle and an
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318:) was the most important. In 1760, Dunhill added sugar to the medicinal liquorice; he was also a grower of liquorice. It was not until 1810, that
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levels and subsequent muscle failure. Earlier in 2004, the
European Commission had recommended limiting consumption of the active ingredient,
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name for
Pontefract. However, that name has fallen into disuse and they are now almost invariably labelled "Pontefract cakes". The term "
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magnesian limestone such as in Surrey, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire and
Yorkshire. Camden's Britannia of 1637 noted the crop in
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476:(2004). "A special crop and its markets in the 18th century: the case of Pontefract's Liquorice". In Hoyle, R. W. (ed.).
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386:, Mr Gibson, the local doctor and one of the main characters, says in discussion with the father of one of his apprentices:
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In
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employed on
Pontefract cakes since 1612, when the initials 'GS' were used, and are thought to be those of Sir
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and Pontefract. By 1780 liquorice growing was concentrated almost wholly in Pontefract and in Surrey, around
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with a raven on the top bar, which is thought to have been in use for almost 400 years. When the first
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measuring approximately .75 in (19 mm) wide and 0.16 in (4 mm) thick, made of
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The original name for these small tablets of liquorice is a "Pomfret" cake, after the old
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322:(eventually known as Ewbanks) joined Dunhill in producing sweet liquorice.
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480:. The Agricultural History Review Supplement, Series 3. p. 116.
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People, Landscape and Alternative Agriculture Essays for Joan Thirsk
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Chapter 4 'Mr Gibson’s Neighbours' in Penguin Classics 1996 p46
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49:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
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109:Learn how and when to remove this message
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605:"Pontefract's secret ballot box, 1872"
583:. Old Hall Press, Leeds. p. 203.
449:. Pen and Sword History. p. 75.
314:(later bought by German confectioner
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430:participating institution membership
47:adding citations to reliable sources
510:MacEacheran, Mike (11 July 2019).
368:, to 100 mg or less per day.
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932:Category:British confectionery
535:Chartres 2004, p. 124 Table 1.
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581:Chronicles of Old Pontefract
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699:Traditional British sweets
146:Pomfret cake, Pomfrey cake
137:A pile of Pontefract cakes
977:Liquorice (confectionery)
956:United Kingdom portal
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417:Oxford English Dictionary
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579:Lorenzo Padgett (1905).
443:Chrystal, Paul (2021).
422:Oxford University Press
16:Type of liquorice candy
889:Uncle Joe's Mint Balls
569:Chartres 2004, p. 132.
500:Chartres 2004, p. 118.
982:British confectionery
547:The History of Sweets
446:The History of Sweets
330:Production and design
545:Chrystal. P (2021).
43:improve this article
420:(Online ed.).
383:Wives and Daughters
372:Literary references
320:Firth Confectioners
296:Siege of Pontefract
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824:Liquorice allsorts
774:Fisherman's Friend
549:. pp. 78–79.
246:. You can help by
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644:. 21 May 2004
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32:This article
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809:Jelly Babies
754:Butterscotch
729:Barley sugar
709:Aniseed ball
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648:25 September
646:. Retrieved
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614:. Retrieved
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41:Please help
36:verification
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834:Midget Gems
719:Apple drops
99:August 2009
992:Pontefract
971:Categories
869:Soor ploom
844:Pear drops
784:Fruit Gums
590:1152214659
516:BBC Travel
432:required.)
396:References
308:apothecary
217:Pontefract
69:newspapers
904:Yellowman
899:Wine gums
894:Victory V
874:Star rock
839:Pan drops
819:Liquorice
362:potassium
289:Godalming
213:Yorkshire
209:liquorice
185:Liquorice
175:Yorkshire
616:24 March
310:chemist
215:town of
804:Humbugs
521:15 July
343:in the
285:Worksop
278:History
221:England
83:scholar
884:Toffee
879:Tablet
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411:"Cake"
316:Haribo
268:Norman
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205:sweet
90:JSTOR
76:books
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650:2020
618:2013
585:ISBN
551:ISBN
523:2019
482:ISBN
451:ISBN
272:cake
227:Name
199:and
151:Type
62:news
642:BBC
376:In
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45:by
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