In the attractive town of Grasmere, next to the church where William Wordsworth is buried, is this delightful cottage, built in 1630 and formerly a school (William taught here) but now a shop making and selling genuine Grasmere gingerbread. Sarah Nelson took over the cottage in 1850 and her gingerbread has been sold here ever since.
A small queue starts to form just before opening time, when the wafting aroma from the shop’s kitchen becomes almost irresistible. Wrapped in the familiar white paper with blue trade mark, the gingerbread moves very quickly. As well as gingerbread, the shop makes its own rum butter and sells other Lakeland delicacies, such as Kendal mint cake, which is not a cake as we know it, but a slab of peppermint.
The shop is tiny and exactly as it has been for over a hundred years; only about four people can get in at once. The staff are dressed in traditional Victorian attire which is a nice touch. Of course it’s a tourist honey pot, but the saving grace, apart from the delightful cottage is that the gingerbread is delicious. It’s more like a biscuit and needs to be eaten when fresh, which could be why it’s freshly baked every day. If you are taking some home for presents, buy it as late as you can.
It may be purchased online as well.
Main Street , Grasmere, UK
Contact tel: +44 (0) 15394 35428
Useful links
Grasmere Gingerbread
