Broomfields Bakeries

I remember with great affection the GORGEOUS aroma of newly baked bread floating in the air as one approached Broomfields baker shop in HANDCROFT ROAD Croydon. This was in the late 1940s and the bread was, I'm pretty sure, baked in the back of this lovely shop.
Today's bread seldom matches the scent and taste of bread baked back in those old days. My Mum always bought a 'large Tin load' with it's superb crunchy top crust.
I can still enjoy the smell of this lovely loaf, only in my mind and not in reality - sadly.

my late Dad Jack Williams was a driver for broomfields c 1950 and always told me stories of the wonderful bread in latter years we scoured all the bakers we could find to get a loaf that my Dad liked, to no avail.
My late Mum Eileen Williams then Richards worked there to in accounts, they married in 52 when dad joined the surrey fire brigade. His great friend and mentor was George Brake who was a master baker there amongst other talents, He was one of the founder members of bicycle polo in England and introduced my Dad to the game after the war, Dad went on to play for crystal palace and was capped for England on several occaisions, in 67 he played an exhibition match at smiths lawn in front of the Queen And the Duke, at one point he had headed the solid polo ball in for a goal, Phillip later remarking "I bet that hurt"
My Dad had such fond memories of Broomfields and Croydon.
My Grandparents lived in Edridge rd, N0 48, they moved to purely in the mid 60s under a compulsory purchase when the flyover was built

I have a picture of my Dad standing in front of the Broomfields lorry, number plate JOY 34, bet that plate would be worth a few bob now, can't see how to share it though, also another one loading that famed bread into the van

So glad that three people remember Broomfields the Bakers.
Would welcome to see any photos. My husband makes our bread the old fashioned way like his uncle Fred Broomfield and grandfather did using a `mother` or sour dough. The taste and smell takes you back to your childhood, & so much better for you.

Hi. We lived near Oxted, about 12 miles South of Croydon, but my father worked in Sutton and sometimes stopped in Croydon on the way home. He would go to Surrey Street Market to buy fruit and vegetables, and sometimes as a special treat he would bring home what he always called a "Broomfield Cake". This was their walnut layer cake which was absolutely fabulous - I can honestly say that I have never had a walnut layer cake like it since. Best wishes, Jim.

Thanks Jim, lovely to hear your comment about Broomfields Bakery and its walnut layer cake, oh if only grandfather was alive he would remember it well as he worked for Broomfields as a baker. Croydon has changed so much but the memories are still there.
Willys14u comment in July was wonderful to read and wish he could get the photos he has on the site.
If anyone else has any memories or indeed knew of anyone working for Broomfields, would love to hear.
Thank you.

Hi worked for broomfields bakery as a baker in their hot bread shops, they had a factory on Blackheath hill in Blackheath, I worked in the hot bread shop in the Whitgift centre for a while as bakery manager also West Wickham until they got taken over by bakers oven then I finished my time with them in Lewisham shopping centre.

I worked in the Brookfield's shops in George street and addiscombe then in the office in mayo road remember all the delivery drivers as my late uncle Cyril was one also remember jack Williams also George brake a very strict boss down in the bake house lovely memories and also the beautiful bread smelli worked on the switch board my name in the days was elaine phillips

All of these quotes bring back many memories as I used to be a
Lorry driver for broomfields in the early 60si left broomfields in 1966 and emigrated to Canada.
Ashley Easthope

Worked at broomfields in blackheath hill from 1983 till it closed in 92 , started there as a 15 year old yard boy cleaning the lorrys . Fantastic memory's of all the people that worked there ,some real characters . Very very happy time of my life . Every body there was like a character out of fools and horses . I turned down apprentership as a baker, and a diesel fitted to become a driver at 21 only because I wanted to flirt with all the young girls who worked in the shops .
Every day seemed fun , such a pleasure to go to work . Still keep in contact with some guys I met there and we always end up laughing when we start telling story's of all the going ons there . Shame there's no photos of the place on here . I am sure I have a few of some of the guys somewhere , will try and post them if I find them .

HI
My father purchased the building in Pimlico that was a Broomfields, I think the company went down around 1982. I remember that the where 2 huge ovens in the basement that were big enough to bake enough bread for the whole of Victoria, Anyway we bricked them up because the they were too big to repair. We still own the building and now hoping to get enough money to break the wall and restore the ovens and make my own bakery. Fingers crossed.....

My mother worked for Fred Broomfield, very early on. I knew him when Broomfields used horses to haul their bread vans. I was given a pony named Johnny who had been used on the rounds. Johnny proved to be too difficult to be kept on the route, because he wouldn't stop at each house, but kept going. (wonder why the driver didn't apply the brake.?)
I have pictures of my mother with some other Broomfield female employees, and one of a large group of over fifty employees, including Mrs. Broomfield and daughter, probably at some work-related picnic.
Broomfields was finally sold to Weston Bakeries (Canada)
Also have a picture of the Thornton Heath store. Could post them here, if I knew how to transfer the photographs. Since 1956 I've lived in Canada.

Hi, thankyou for responding and great to know you worked for Broomfields. I do hope you can find a way to download your photos, as the family would love to see them. My husband says he remembers his mum talking about a horse named Johnny, what is your mum`s name as i`m sure someone in my family would remember her. Hope you have enjoyed your time in Canada.

Hi, I`m sorry I have only just seen your message, Yes some of the ovens were very large, We would be very interested to know if you have been able to restore the old ovens and baking!

My Mother (Annie Woplin) and Father (David Keen) worked at Broomfields (off Pawsons Road?) before the war. Dad was a roundsman with horse drawn van. Mum was in accounts. Heard stories of the stables catching fire during the war and all the horses running amock.
Knew Mrs Byfield who was Broomfield before she married. She helped my parents buy their house in Edith Road, not that far from the bakery.

I remember,with fondness, the branch of Broomfields in Lower Addiscombe Road, Croydon. There was nothing like a freshly baked hot cross bun from there early on Good Friday morning. Those were the days when the buns were only available on Good Friday.

So true and it should only be Good Friday that hot cross buns should sold. Let's get back to the traditions!

Good to hear your family memories. Would love to see any photos of Broomfields bakeries and staff.

Hello everyone I was a lorry driver for Broomfields from 1960– 1966 then immigrated to Canada
Ashley Easthope

Great to find this site. My father Alfred Coxon returned from the war in 1946 and Fred Broomfield gave him a job as a roundsman. He spent many years using the horses in the stables in Northbrook Road. Fred let dad buy the house opposite the stables No 27, I can remember as a boy riding on the carts taking the horse manure to our allotment, Dad worked his way up to become Dispatch Manager and I can remember well the free cakes and wonderful bread. Such a sad day when Fred sold out, the new factory took all the romance out of Mayo Road.
My first job as a boy making up the dispatch orders on a Saturday morning.

Did your father remember anyone else working there, ie: Pat Sadler ?

Would love to see your photos if you could possibly put them on here

Sorry I was only a lad of about 14/15 and taking photos was not a priority. I will look through my Dads things to see if there is anything.

We would be so grateful if you could find some photos

Can you add photos on here? I have a photo from the 1920's

Barbara Saunders, in an earlier post, 13 Nov 2019, mentioned a Pat Sadler. My god-parents in the 1950s were a Bill and Ivy Sadler, lovely people, who lived in Grange Road and in the 1939 census Bill seemed to be referred to as - "Occupation - Bread Bakery Manager Works". Does anyone know anything of the family, we left for NZ in 1961, never been back to UK.
My Dad Albert Mundy worked at Broomfields, Mayo Road possibly.

LINK WITH pHOTO BROOMFIELDS pURLEY LEFT OF SAINSBURYS https://www.facebook.com/groups/2040465802901747/discussion/preview