This came up on another thread.
In the not too distant past, there were bakers shops in convenient locations in most towns. I live in Glasgow, and unless you count fancy artisan bakers where you can buy cottage loaves for the same price as an actual cottage, or Greggs, then there are no old style high street bakeries. Certainly not near where I live. (G20).
Yesterday my Dad (85, who is living with us after a hospital stay) wanted a bridie. (
Bridie - Wikipedia ). In my youth, these were available on any high street. We couldn't find one. Supermarkets will sell you multi-packs of Scotch pies. Greggs will sell you steak bakes. But no bridies.
Recently I was told by some Scottish Tweeterers that soda scones were not a Scottish thing, but only Northern Irish. This didn't used to be true. They were available in all good bakers when I was growing up, and we'd often have them as a breakfast item, toasted and topped with eggs (poached, scrambled or fried), or with butter and marmalade. Or even toasted with grilled cheese and a slice of tomato for lunch. They were usually toasted as a breakfast accompaniment (rarely fried and on the plate in a fry-up, as in Northern Ireland, unless stale, but certainly a regular breakfast item). But you can't find them anywhere now, so youngsters in Scotland would be forgiven for not knowing about them.
Plain bread (
Plain loaf - Wikipedia ), in my youth known as a "half loaf", as they were baked in twos then split; (Scottish) crumpets (the larger of the two pan cakes below); Selkirk bannocks, and on and on, which used to be widely available, are now out of fashion, and where even available in supermarkets, are often labelled with non-Scots terms: "Irish potato cakes" (tattie scones), "Irish farls" (soda scones); even turnips come cling-wrapped and called "swedes" in some shops.
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I knows tastes and times change, but I regret the loss of bakeries you can buy bread and rolls in, and the loss of local character.
Are there non-Greggs, non-artisan bakeries on your local high street? Are there traditional items from your youth lost to newer generations? I know Staffordshire has very few oatcake shops now, for example, although they are available pre-packed in supermarkets. What about Henderson's relish in Sheffield? Do young folks buy it?
Take it away, curmudgeons of Urban. Shake your fist at that cloud!