A taste that's out of Cornwall

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12.05.08

My god-father was William Amos Jennings who had the Grocer's shop in Victoria Square in Truro. Jennings were the principal supplier of Jamaican ginger and west Indian demerara sugar to the Furniss Factory. My earliest memory is from 1939 but I know my God-father's father - Amos Jennings started the business in Pydar Street in the late 1800's, moving to the prime site in Victoria Square in the early 1900's as the old site was too small. The ginger was kept in a seperate 'strong room' at the back of the shop and the sugar was in 2cwt (that's 100kg+) hessian sacks.

My Uncle Bill thought very highly of the Furniss account as he had to travel to Bristol frequently to oversee the arrival of any new consignment from the Indies. (Well that was his excuse). He always returned with large quantities of very strong cigarettes for 'favoured customers' including those of the Furniss family. I think the picture you have of the original factory is in fact on Lemon Quay in Truro - just up the river from the old bus station.

Nigel Parker

 

21.02.08

"Not only were the Cornish Gingerbreads a tasty treat but the empty tins were the perfect size for knitting needles which went down extremely well with the ladies"

Anon 

 

20.02.08

I am now 91 years of age but the first 30 years of my life had close connections with Furniss, so I hope some of my memories will be of use to you.

My Father Thomas (Tommy) Borlaise joined Furniss in 1916 at the age of 26 as a Traveller. He visited all the surrounding village shops selling Gingerbreads and boiled sweets, his transport was a pony and trap driven by George (who always wore a bowler hat), these journeys often meant overnight stays. When my father joined the firm the office and factory were run by two gentlemen Mr John and Mr Polkinghoine (all employees were in awe of them).

In approximately 1924-25 my father was given a car, which meant he could go further afield and Furniss's Goods started to be known all over Cornwall and another Traveller Mr Sobey was taken on. They had a van for delivery which was driven by Percy Reynolds. Many new lines were introduced especially in the biscuits, but not only the Gingerbreads market Furniss made a lot of boiled sweets. A Mr Hooper was in charge of this department and he would put the stripe in the Mint Humbugs by pulling the mixture on a type of nail on the wall (by hand). When we were old enough my sister and I were taken around the factory often and always came home with sweets. Mr Tunstall another employee used to make baskets of sweets for us all in the shape of flowers

As time went on Mr John died and later Mr Polkinghoine retired. The staff started to increase, Norman Haynes became Secretary and Mr Archie Michell was taken on as another Traveller, the office staff were increased, business improved and everything was run smoothly. When the war came many of the staff were called up including Norman Haynes (Secretary). My father was taken off the road and put in charge of the office and factory which was no easy job with so many staff having to go.

My father came home from the factory on Friday 22nd March 1946 and sadly died from a massive stroke on Saturday 23rd 1946 after 30 years service to Furniss.

Roughly in the 1920's a large fire destoryed the shops from the Bridge in New Bridge Street but was brought under control just as it reached the Furniss building the side of which was badly scorched. My husband and I purchased a shop in New Bridge Street two doors from Furniss Factory in 1946 which was in our family for about 47 years and was still there when the factory moved. We sold many of Furniss's products (even with rationing) and got to know the staff very well as they came into our shop regularly. Everything changed in these days, they started recruiting more staff after the war years, Norman Haynes came back and the office staff were increased by Denzil Burley (who later became a Traveller) Doug Glose, Stanley Taylor, Joan & June, a new manager Doug Muiton in the sweet department Roy Lean as manager in the biscuit department and John Tonkin as another Traveller. They all worked well together as I'm sure things continue the same today.

I have also found an old newspaper from West Briton Argus - Furniss Centenary Souvenir July 1986 (please click on link to view)   

Yours sincerely

Phyls Smith, Truro

 

11.07.08

I refer to the article in the Cornishman, July 5th. I thought you might be interested to know that I worked 1954-1959 as a hairdresser for Murial Lightbown, who was the daughter of Mr Kemp who was the owner of Furniss Bakery in New Bridge Street, Truro. I think Mr Kemp bought the business from Mr John Cooper Furniss about 70 years ago. Furniss was famous for their gingerbread; they also produced a unforgetable mint humbug, I wish they were still available.

Your sincerely

Mrs D James, Truro 

 

07.07.08

My Father & Mother had two businesses in Redruth, one being a grocery shop, 1 Fore Street which was aquired for road widening in 1960. The other 90 Fore Street now Marshalls Estate Agents, around 1950 this shop sold sweets, flowers, fruit, cigerettes etc. I believe at this time there was a Rep. for Furniss call Mr Michell, he was a very small man and if I remember he wore glasses. My Father bought the Cornish Fairings for the grocery shop and sweets for the other. It was arranged for us to go to Truro to look around the factory, I was around 10-11 years old at the time. We were shown how the Cornish Fairings were made, from the mixing of the ingredients, cutting into shape to going through the large oven and arriving the other end cooked. I believe this oven is still in use at your Pool factory. I saw staff making mint humbugs from the ingredients being mixed, an amount of dark mint taken out and thrown over a hook to change the colour from brown to a white by getting air into it. The large amount of dark soft mint was put on to a long stainless steel table to make stripes, the white was rolled into strips and placed evenly down the length of the dark mint. The whole thing was rolled into a large sausage shape. This was done by two staff and made smaller at one end, this end was fed through a machine which cut and shaped the humbugs, which emerged at the other end. While I was there the staff made me a little basket in yellow and different coloured flowers for me to take home, the flowers were made out of fruit drop mixture. My father also bought sticks of Barley suger and believe he also bought these from Furniss. I am a member of Penwith history Group and do quite a lot of research, when I have time I will try and find out more about the factory and if I do I will let you have it. My son Raymond worked at Pool until the firm went into liquidation last year. I hope this is of some use to you.

Yours sincerely

Mrs A Altree, Penzance

 

19.07.07

Did you know that Mr Furniss founded a Coal Charity which is still going today. Every winter City Councilllors here in Truro act as agents for the Charity, and distribute coal. In theory it should only be to people who have no other means of heating, but we take a view on that and make sure it gets to people who need it. The Town Clerk here has old documents relating to this.

Regards

Cllr Rob Nolan