By Henry Sutton
As the only market town in the Peak District National Park, Bakewell is full of bustle and pretty historical monuments, none more so than the 13th Century packhorse bridge which spans the River Wye. The five Gothic arches currently support the A619 to Chesterfield.
However, its fame has nothing to do with monuments, agriculture or its former aspiration to be a spa (to rival nearby Buxton) but a Victorian culinary accident. As one story goes, an inexperienced cook at the White Horse Inn was attempting to make jam tarts and almond cake, but spilt the half-made cake mixture into a jam tart and baked the result anyway. Another account has a cook forgetting to add egg and sugar to the pastry base, but spreading the mixture on top of the jam as an after thought.
Whatever the truth, and everyone has an opinion, Bakewell is full of establishments all claiming to make “original” Bakewell Puddings, and all claiming to be in possession of the secret recipe. Certainly great Bakewell Puddings are available at The Rutland Arms (The Square, Bakewell, 01629 812812), which was formerly the White Horse. Here, it is served, in the fancy Four Seasons restaurant, with clotted cream and fresh berry compote.
At The Old Original Bakewell Pudding Shop (The Square, Bakewell, 01629 812193), which also has an impressive pudding pedigree and even a special, handmade Bakewell Pudding carpet, freshly baked puddings are served hot with custard or cream. They are also available to be shipped anywhere in the world via a post-a-pudding scheme.
However, local historian Trevor Brighton, believes Bakewell Pudding dates from the middle ages and probably has its origins in France. He claims it was enjoyed in the 1500s by the grandees of the spectacular medieval Haddon Hall, a couple of miles out of town. This, supposedly, was where Jane Austen stayed, centuries later, while writing Pride and Prejudice. In the book she modelled the town of Lambton on Bakewell and Darcy’s estate Pemberley on the other great local pile, Chatsworth House (www.chatsworth.org/). But, just as there are those who doubt whether Austen even visited Bakewell, there are those who blanch at the addition of almonds in a true Bakewell Pudding.
* Tourist Information Centre & Peak National Park Information Centre, Old Market Hall, Bridge Street (01629 816558, www.visitpeakdistrict.com).