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Were
cream teas "invented" in Tavistock?
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| Made
in Devon...cream teas? |
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Local
historians in the historic Devon town of Tavistock have unearthed
evidence that the cream tea originated there around 1,000 years ago.
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Think
of Devon, and what images spring to mind? There's the rolling hills,
the sandy beaches, the thatched cottages...and then there's the scrummy
cream teas.
The mouth-watering combination of scones, jam and clotted cream has
tempted locals and visitors alike for as long as we can remember -
but just who "invented" the snack?
Local historians in Tavistock, West Devon, think they've found the
answer.
They've been studying ancient manuscripts as part of research leading
up to next year's 900th anniversary of the granting of Tavistock's
Royal Charter by King Henry I in 1105.
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| Historic
Tavistock |
After
piecing together fragments of manuscripts, they've discovered that
the people we have to thank for creating Devon's favourite dish are
the monks of Tavistock's Benedictine Abbey.
The Abbey was established in the 10th century, but was plundered and
badly damaged by a band of marauding Vikings in 997AD.
It took a lot of hard work to restore the Abbey, and the task was
undertaken by Ordulf, Earl of Devon. His father Ordgar, Earl of Devon,
had been responsible for establishing the Abbey in the first place.
Ordulf was helped by local workers, and to reward them, the monks
fed them with bread, clotted cream and strawberry preserves. And so,
the Devon cream tea was born!
The cream teas were so popular, that the monks continued to serve
them to passing travellers.
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| Not
only was the cream tea 'born' in Tavistock - so was Sir Francis
Drake |
To
mark the discovery of this little piece of Devon history, the cream
tea will be taking pride of place at this year's Tavistock Food and
Drink Festival on 31st July and 1st August.
Festival president, Mike Hooper, is delighted at the find: "How
extraordinary that, after so many years, Tavistock can perhaps claim
to be the birthplace of the original cream tea.
"We can only wonder who it was who carried news of this Abbey
dish into Cornwall," he added.
Unfortunately, the Abbey had an unhappy end, with King Henry VIII's
'Dissolution of the Monasteries' order in 1539. The centre of the
town now sits on the site and some of the remains can still be seen.
But at least it left us its legacy...the Devonshire cream tea.
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Article first published: 17th January 2004
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