c. 1700
Wheat began to overtake rye and barley as the chief bread grain.
1709
A new Act superseded the Assize of 1266. Magistrates were empowered to control the type, weight and price of loaves. Only white, wheaten (wholemeal) and ‘household’ bread were permitted (‘household’ bread was made from low grade flour).
1757
A report accused bakers of adulterating bread by using alum lime, chalk and powdered bones to keep it very white. Parliament banned alum and all other additives in bread but some bakers ignored the ban.
1783
The first recorded chain of bakery shops was set up by Christopher Potter of Westminster.
1815
The Corn Laws were passed to protect British wheat growers. The duty on imported wheat was raised and price controls on bread lifted. Bread prices rose sharply.
1822
In London standard weights for loaves were abolished. Bakers had to weigh each loaf in the customer’s presence.
1826
Wholemeal bread, eaten by the military, was recommended as being healthier than the white bread eaten by the aristocracy.
1834
Rollermills were invented in Switzerland. Whereas stonegrinding crushed the grain, distributing the vitamins and nutrients evenly, the rollermill broke open the wheat berry and allowed easy separation of the wheat germ and bran. This process greatly eased the production of white flour but it was not until the 1870s that it became economic. Steel rollermills gradually replaced the old windmills and watermills.
1846
With large groups of the population near to starvation the Corn Laws were repealed and the duty on imported grain was removed. Importing good quality North American wheat enabled white bread to be made at a reasonable cost. Together with the introduction of the rollermill this led to the increase in the general consumption of white bread – for so long the privilege of the upper classes.
1887
The National Association of Master Bakers was formed.
