Producing the Goods

Gold Hill Cobbles

Challenged by Common Ground to produce a special loaf for Shaftesbury, Peter Smith created a brioche-type loaf that was deeply indented to resemble the cobbles on Gold Hill, allowing it to be torn easily for eating. Peter’s grandfather established a bakery in Portland, Dorset in 1903. Peter’s father and two of his uncles carried on the business, moving to Charmouth in 1936. Smith’s the Bakers came to Gillingham in 1977, opening a shop in the town and in Shaftesbury. They also sold bread, pastries and cakes to other shops and restaurants in the vicinity.

Edible souvenirs are what tourists hope to find in a place, but there is seldom anything authentic or locally distinctive to buy. Smiths helped to reinforce the identity of the town.

Common Ground perceived the potential since for many years Gold Hill has been known for another kind of loaf, itself with a long history, made famous by a Ridley Scott television advertisement filmed in 1973 – the one with a small boy wheeling his bike with a basket full of bread up the steep curving hill. The Hovis Loaf was invented by Richard "Stoney" Smith (no relation) in 1886. First called ‘hominis vis’ (strength of man) and then shortened to Hovis, it reintroduced wheatgerm to the British loaf.

Sadly due to illness Smiths closed in 2006 so the loaf is no longer made - perhaps there will be another local baker game to take on this distinctive bread?

Contact:
Sue Clifford / Angela King, Common Ground +44(0)1747 850820