Glennys Jean
master brummie
Oh !! Well, I saw the thread Sribbans Bakery & assumed it was cake using oil as a shortening ingredient !
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Brookfields Lad
master brummie
Secret Llandudno
Secret Llandudno offers a unique insight into the ‘Queen of the Welsh Resorts’ through a series of little-known and forgotten stories, facts and anecdotes. Local author and historian John Lawson-Reay takes the reader on a fascinating journey from prehistoric times to the present day, blending...
books.google.co.uk
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Glennys Jean
master brummie
Thanks BOB.More info here about Scribbans bakery owners.
Secret Llandudno
Secret Llandudno offers a unique insight into the ‘Queen of the Welsh Resorts’ through a series of little-known and forgotten stories, facts and anecdotes. Local author and historian John Lawson-Reay takes the reader on a fascinating journey from prehistoric times to the present day, blending...books.google.co.uk
Oil cake seems to have been made from linseed and was used to feed cattle.
Scribbans were suppliers of slab cake to army and navy contractors during WW1. Remember slab cake ? We used to often have this at home. Viv.
Scribbans were suppliers of slab cake to army and navy contractors during WW1. Remember slab cake ? We used to often have this at home. Viv.
Glennys Jean
master brummie
Ok Mike & Viv, so oilcake is for cattle. Now slabcake at the time, was it full of raisins something like Xmas cake? I found on internet an old recipe called World War 1 cake which doesn't have any eggs, milk or butter in it, but lots of spices and uses oil for instance as shortening; I made it yesterday, wasn't bad at all, and somewhat like ginger bread.
The slab cake I remember was full of dried fruit. I think it was made that way because it had a longer shelf life. I guess the WW1 trenches cake would have been similar as it would have survived transporting over time.
I too wondered if oil had been used in Scribbans' cakes at one time. It's a good possibility. Any Scribbans advertising doesn't seem to mention it, but then they probably wouldn't as it would have been regarded as inferior to butter.
Viv.
I too wondered if oil had been used in Scribbans' cakes at one time. It's a good possibility. Any Scribbans advertising doesn't seem to mention it, but then they probably wouldn't as it would have been regarded as inferior to butter.
Viv.
Just checked out linseed in cooking, and yes it can be used. Also known as flaxseed. So maybe that's what Scribbans used. Interesting - and learned something new today ! Viv.
Radiorails
master brummie
At the time of WW1- although as I wan't about then I cannot guarantee it 
- there was less legislation regarding food labelling and the composition of products, more over there were no best before and similar styled dates.
The Llandudno link, post 93#, is quite interesting. An earlier post. from memory, stated that Ada died in Llandudno.
North Wales seems to have been a popular area before WW2 for Midlanders. Apparently I was taken to Rhyl just before the war, but at a very tender age recall nothing of it.
- there was less legislation regarding food labelling and the composition of products, more over there were no best before and similar styled dates.The Llandudno link, post 93#, is quite interesting. An earlier post. from memory, stated that Ada died in Llandudno.
North Wales seems to have been a popular area before WW2 for Midlanders. Apparently I was taken to Rhyl just before the war, but at a very tender age recall nothing of it.
Robert Bentley
New Member
We have just acquired the 1934 Rolls Royce model 20/25 two door fixed head coupe, that Harry Scribbans bought for his Wife Ada in 1934. It is still in fabulous condition, and like their house in Llandudno "Villa Marina" , the interior is heavily influenced by the "Art Deco" period. It is very stylish, and Harry had the body designed by Atcherley Coachbuilders of Birmingham. They were excellent craftsmen, and the car today is a testament to their quality works. If you would like to see photos of it, there are many on our website, www.classic-car-london.com Ada Scribbans owned this car until she passed away in 1954, and there have been three others since then. The history and provenance can be traced for this car from day 1. the registration number of this car is ADA888, and it has always been affectionately known as "ADA"
Brookfields Lad
master brummie
Fabulous. A decent item of history preserved. Well done.
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Radiorails
master brummie
The post by Richard drew attention to Atcherley, who was the builder of Ada Scribbans car. They built many prestigious makes it seems.
Brough is also mentioned with Atcherley but the only reference to Brough is on a motor cycle thread here. No mention of Atcherley, it seems, before now.
Brough is also mentioned with Atcherley but the only reference to Brough is on a motor cycle thread here. No mention of Atcherley, it seems, before now.
Wonderful to learn that at least one of these cars has survived. My late brother mentioned Mrs Scribbans's two Rolls-Royces in a memoir about his Home Guard service in a platoon based at Little Aston Hall (and commanded by his and my father):
.....The look-out site was upon the roof of Little Aston Hall, gained by ascending two or three iron ladders secured to the exterior walls. At that time, the Hall was still privately owned and occupied by a certain Mrs. Ada Scribbans, the wealthy widow of a local bakery proprietor. The platoon headquarters was in a disused part of the old stable block, which opened out on to a sizeable square, useful for parades. One side contained a large garage, inside which stood two black Rolls-Royce motor cars, bearing the number plates ADA 1 and ADA 2. I never saw these outside, and assumed that they had been laid up "for the duration". The stables served as guardroom and as the platoon office....
In fact this memory was later corrected by someone who, after the war, used to service the two cars: they were silver, not black and their registration numbers were ADA 888 and ADA 999. I too visited the stables during the war but never saw the cars either, to my regret. But they were certainly known about.
I have some cine film of the Home Guard platoon parading in the courtyard of Little Aston Hall stables. Unfortunately, again, the garage doors are firmly closed and so no record of the cars as they were in 1941 appears to survive. So near and yet so far!
Chris
.....The look-out site was upon the roof of Little Aston Hall, gained by ascending two or three iron ladders secured to the exterior walls. At that time, the Hall was still privately owned and occupied by a certain Mrs. Ada Scribbans, the wealthy widow of a local bakery proprietor. The platoon headquarters was in a disused part of the old stable block, which opened out on to a sizeable square, useful for parades. One side contained a large garage, inside which stood two black Rolls-Royce motor cars, bearing the number plates ADA 1 and ADA 2. I never saw these outside, and assumed that they had been laid up "for the duration". The stables served as guardroom and as the platoon office....
In fact this memory was later corrected by someone who, after the war, used to service the two cars: they were silver, not black and their registration numbers were ADA 888 and ADA 999. I too visited the stables during the war but never saw the cars either, to my regret. But they were certainly known about.
I have some cine film of the Home Guard platoon parading in the courtyard of Little Aston Hall stables. Unfortunately, again, the garage doors are firmly closed and so no record of the cars as they were in 1941 appears to survive. So near and yet so far!
Chris
I hope Robert Bentley doesn't mind, but here is a 2020 image of the 1934 car, from his website. A change of colour at some stage during its 86 year life. I like to imagine it gliding around the lanes of 1930s South Staffordshire, almost certainly chauffeur driven and with Mrs. Scribbans sitting regally in the back.....
Chris
Chris
Radiorails
master brummie
I wonder who initially supplied Harry with his two Rolls Royce cars. The *DA series was a Wolverhampton registration so he would not have needed to look far away from home.
Glennys Jean
master brummie
My mom Nora Archer had very fond memories of working at Scribbans at I think Smethwick around 1959 -1962. She remembers being sent home with her cousin for being late back from lunch. They told the supervisor that they had been watching I think Watch with Mother. He told them that’s ok girls you can can go home and watch Pinky and Perky now. He sent them packing and they had half a days pay docked.
It must have been working here that my mom developed a long lasting fondness for Pineapple Creams and broken biscuits that she passed on to her children.
It must have been working here that my mom developed a long lasting fondness for Pineapple Creams and broken biscuits that she passed on to her children.
Richard Dye
master brummie
Welcome to the Forum Sharon! Unfortunately I know Pineapple Creams too well and broken biscuits goes without saying
blairallan
Brummie babby
blairallan
Brummie babby
blairallan
Brummie babby
blairallan
Brummie babby
blairallan
Brummie babby
oldMohawk
gone but not forgotten
In the early 1970s, GKN owned Little Aston Hall and held management courses there and on one occasion I stayed overnight. If a daytime lecture became boring, I used to look up at a wonderful ceiling fresco and wonder about the meaning of it ...
Two aerial photos taken in 1933.
From the lake
Towards the lake.
images from 'britainfromabove'
Two aerial photos taken in 1933.
From the lake
Towards the lake.
images from 'britainfromabove'
blairallan
Brummie babby
Would you be able to pinpoint on googlemaps exactly where the hall was pleaseIn the early 1970s, GKN owned Little Aston Hall and held management courses there and on one occasion I stayed overnight. If a daytime lecture became boring, I used to look up at a wonderful ceiling fresco and wonder about the meaning of it ...
Two aerial photos taken in 1933.
From the lake
View attachment 160642
Towards the lake.
View attachment 160643
images from 'britainfromabove'
oldMohawk
gone but not forgotten
'Little Aston Hall' is now a large private hospital with many buildings in the grounds. It is down a drive from the A454 road which leads off a main road A452 which is the Chester Road. As you can see type the location and Google Maps finds it. Apple maps does similar.
A computer assisted 3D view below as of today matching the 1937 view. The Scribbans family would have recognised this view ...
Wikipedia shows that it is Grade II listed and gives much other information
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blairallan
Brummie babby
Thanks, blairallan, that's an interesting cutting.
In the latter half of the 1940s, and later, I used to travel to school every day upstairs on the Midland Red double-decker from Streetly to Sutton (the no. 101). I was interested in cars and looked every morning down on a large modern house in Lichfield Road, just along from Four Oaks Station in the direction of Tamworth Road. From time to time the garage door was open and I was fascinated to note that the household boasted two cars: a Rolls-Royce and a large, gleaming Buick. Two of my favourite cars and it seemed to me that the owner had the best of both worlds!
75 years later, I'm now wondering whether this had become the home of Ada Scribbans. I wish I could remember the registration numbers......
Chris
