Meaning
A person who baked and sold bread and other baked goods.
Description
Bakers were found in every town and most large villages, producing bread, rolls, pies and pastries for sale. Many households without ovens brought their own dough to the baker to be baked for a small fee. Bakers worked through the night to have fresh bread ready by morning. The trade was closely regulated in earlier centuries through the Assize of Bread, which controlled the price and weight of loaves. Many bakers also operated as confectioners, selling cakes and biscuits. The introduction of roller milling and factory bread-making in the late 19th century transformed the trade.
Also Known As
Bread Baker, Master Baker
Commonly Found In
- Census Returns
- Trade Directories
- Parish Registers
- Apprenticeship Records
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