Wigan Album

I remember those Holland Toffee caramels. Mam would buy a quarter between three of us when going to the Scholes Picture House. They were long lasting and a good chew!

That's a good-un Veronica; 'A good chew'. We don't hear it now, as in days of yore, but it still has a 'good ring' about it.

There was a caramel bar as well in squares P. Brick hard they were - not sure if they were the same name. So chewy and hard they nearly pulled your teeth out. I think they were fourpence.

Beautiful, creamy tasting Holland toffee, but be careful about your fillings, and crowns.

Perhaps Hollands Toffee which were made in Southport were
one of the sponsors of Southport F.C. at Haig Avenue.
In the City of Liverpool, Barker & Dobson, toffee makers,
were the main sponsor of Everton F.C. at Goodison Park.
Everton F.C. were known as "The Toffees", and on matchdays,
the "Toffee Maids" would throw toffees and Everton Mints
into the supporters inside the football ground.

Who won?

I remember seeing the Toffee Lady, dressed in blue with matching bonnet, at the first match I attended. The match was played between Everton and Manchester United at Goodison Park in October 1958 and watched by 64,079 spectators. I was two months shy of my tenth birthday, and the largest gathering of people that I'd previously been involved with had been our well-attended annual Walking Days. A different, but equally exciting, kind of furore.

Veronica. I seem to femember the shop keepers’ having small metal hammers, to break up those bars.

Latics won 2-1.

I remember the little hammers Albert - but I preferred trying to chew the squares off or banging them on a solid object. It's a wonder I have still got some teeth! I can even remember trying to crack nuts with my teeth! (shudder!). I didn't know any better in those days!!! Some of the daft things I did - I would never allow my kids to do...

Miss Hunt's toffee shop comes to mind- it was pokey, dark and smelled of aniseed and pear drops. She had a kindly face and wore a long 'pinny'. What I remember most was the 'Tiger' nuts. I have never seen or heard of them since. They were small and shrivelled, I wonder if anybody else remembers them. The shop was in Hardybutts opposite St Pat's church and just a few doors from the Vulcan pub. Nothing remains of that row of buildings and is now open land. If ever I visit the church - I always think of the shop and can see it in my minds eye! I know who will recall it though- our friend Tom- he would have a tale to tell!

I'd almost forgotten all about my 1950s Tiger nuts, Veronica, so thanks for your recollection; I remember being in possession of some, but not the actual 'chew' - I suppose it would have taken a bit of effort to 'get them going.' My brother threaded a small length of wire through a horizontal line of Monkey nuts in his back garden recently and when he'd returned, some time later, he'd noticed that for some 'unknown reason' the squirrels had bitten through one end the wire; wouldn't it have been 'Potterian' to know that the squirrels had shunted-off the nuts before tucking in. Anyhow, I've also been trying to find a particular toffee wrapper on Images, but I've had no joy. The toffee bar was about 5" x 1" and came in a brown and yellow wrapper. Penny Arrow Toffee Bar sprung to mind, but none of the various other 'Arrow' wrappers on Images tally with my description. Perhaps further search could reveal all.

I remember tiger nuts well, Veronica.
Last time I had them was from Shannon's on Market Street, under the market hall verandah, so it's well over thirty years ago!

Toffees these days don't 'do' anything for me - they don't taste the same at all! And the shops that sell them seem to be 'posh'! You can't beat the little shops of childhood days with their huge variety, Gob Stoppers, penny Spanish, Bobby Bubble Gum, penny Arrows and Fry's Five Centres. I loved Curley Wurley toffee, brown and cream in colour in those big glass jars. My mouth's watering! Glad you both remember the Tiger Nuts!

Thank you, Rob. That must have been one of the shock wins, obviously.

Phil G: It was a Z Bar.

Thanks for your effort Jarvo. Good chap. Good chap.
I've just had another search and found what I'd been looking for; The 1d Arrow. It came in a brown, yellow and red wrapper, and . . . well, well, well . . . made by Holland.

Phil, but you won't find it on images...There other Z Bars, but the caramel bar was the one.

Correction: There are other Z Bars...

We got ours from Florry Chisnall's shop, Jarvo, which is now Medivet. Florry was a silent woman, had a hair-bun, wore a mid-blue smock and could often be seen sat at her tall desk as she inserted valuable information into her meaty tome. No 'Florries of said mien' these days. Thanks.

Santus made some of the best toffee. Their treacle, invalid and caramel toffee were in slabs and brocken with a toffee hammer to your requirements. They then put the toffee in grease proof type bags to stop them sticking to the paper

I had completely forgotten about 'Invalid' toffee - wonder why the term 'invalid' was used. There must have been a secret ingredient in them- more milk/ cream perhaps...

I don't know Veronica but it was delicious.I've never seen or heard of it since.

That's right Jack- it was very pale in colour - perhaps that was the secret- it matched the pale faces of the invalids! ;0))

You're not wrong.Google it.

Interesting facts Jack. Invalid toffee was made specially for veterans recovering in hospital after the War. Jelly Babies were known as 'unclaimed babies'. Aw!