Now what could be inside this vintage cake tin ... ?

It was a family joke as long as I can remember that we had a cake in a tin in the back bedroom that was over 100 years old

And here’s the story of how it came about and how it had its 15 minutes of fame. (And it’s over 140 years old now)

According to family history, my Great Great Grandmother, Mary Ann Barnes (born 1848) was a baker at Lanebottom Industrial and Equitable Pioneers Bakery in Ogden, Lancashire. When the bakery closed down, in 1877, staff were allowed to take a cake from the last batch ever made there. My ancestor put it in a cake tin. And there it stayed.

This photo was taken in the 1990s, at the Lanebottom Co-op shop. The bakery was across the road from this, but neither building is now used by the Co-op.

The cake would be brought out on special occasions to people’s amazement but generally it was just a normal part of my childhood. Doesn’t everyone have 100 year old cakes in their back bedroom? My Dad was always one for a good tale and he took great pride in the story of the cake.

He was a member of Rochdale Rotary Club and it the 1990s he thought it would be a good charity fundraiser for people to guess the age of the cake. I can’t remember now if anyone got close but it caused quite a stir and the local paper, the Rochdale Observer picked the story up.

“Doug Wood’s great grandmother made sure he was not without a Christmas cake this year - she baked it 114 years ago!

The retired coal merchant is the fourth owner of the cake since his great grandmother brought it home from the bakery in 1877.

He hopes future generations of the family will resist eating the delicacy for many Christmases to come.

It began life as one of the last batch made in a bakery at Lower Ogden, before it closed. Staff were allowed to take one cake each. Doug’s great grandmother - Mary Ann Barnes - made sure hers lasted longer than the festive period.

She kept it for years, before handing it on to her daughter. The daughter then passed it on to Doug’s uncle, Sim Wood.

When Sim died, the cake was given to Doug’s father Harry Wood. Doug has had the cake since 1976 and he keeps it in a cupboard in a spare bedroom at his home. But he has never been tempted to have a slice.

He said “The Bakeries Association has said that it is quite possible - if it has been stored in dry condition and has not been damaged - that it will last indefinitely. But it’s like concrete! You will need a good set of teeth if you want to attack it. We have our own Christmas cake this year, so we will eat that one and keep the old one.”

The cake’s life is ensured for at least two more generations. Doug will pass it on to his daughter, Hilary Clarke, and she will pass it on to her six year old son, Christopher.

Doug added “It should go on a fair bit longer yet!”

article by Neal Snowden.

Dad wrote 1982 on this cutting but I’m sure it was 1992, a few months after the local paper featured the cake.

I don’t think they have the date of the baking quite right here either, but most of the facts seem close enough!

The producers of Chris Evan’s Big Breakfast show rang Dad and asked if he would come on the show the next week. He replied with “Sorry no, I have to babysit my two grandchildren”. I was working that day and relied heavily on my parents to help me out. And the producers of the show, bless them, said, “bring them down, we’ll pay your expenses and put you all up in a hotel”

Of course he kept the script, he kept everything :-)

These shots were taken with a digital camera pointing at the TV screen while the VHS recording of the show was playing.

Chris Evans had said to Dad, “We’re going to have a bit of fun with this, don’t worry, your cake’s in safe hands.”

And they secretly took it away to the canteen and had their cooks make a copy of the cake.

As Chris Evans told the story, he said to Dad that as they’d had the guess the age competition everyone knew about it now, so they may as well eat it, and so he proceded to carve it up, much to Dad’s horror, or at least feigned horror :-)

Everyone entered into the spirit of it, although as I watched the programme later on that day on the VHS tape, I didn’t know they’d made a copy and I thought they really had ruined the cake!

although Zig and Zag were having a day off that day I believe!

Bryony looking a little overawed by the experience

Dad absolutely loved the whole day and the kids had the best time too. Chris Evans and his team were just amazing to organise the whole thing, I’m so thankful they had this brilliant experience with our ridiculous cake!

And yes I still have it. :-)