Grasmere Gingerbread

Grasmere Gingerbread® is a unique Lake District biscuit invented by creator cook Sarah Nelson in 1854. The recipe is a secret and Sarah’s original hand-written note of its ingredients and baking method is stored in a bank vault in Ambleside. It has been described as the ‘best gingerbread in the world’ and is celebrated by many leading chefs such as Phil Vickery, Jamie Oliver and Gennaro Contaldo. The Grasmere Gingerbread® Shop is housed within Church Cottage, Grasmere which was built as the village school in 1630. It is situated next to St Oswald’s Churchyard where romantic poet William Wordsworth is buried. Sarah Nelson first sold Grasmere Gingerbread® to passing tourists here in 1854 and its reputation quickly spread throughout Victorian society. History Sarah Nelson made and sold Grasmere Gingerbread® from 1854 until she died in 1904. The recipe passed to a great niece, who sold it to Daisy Hotson, who later went into partnership with Jack and Mary Wilson. In 1969 Jack’s nephew, Gerald Wilson and his wife Margaret bought the business. It is now run by their daughter Joanne Hunter and husband Andrew who are both partners.