The rise and fall of John Spicer’s ‘Model Bakery’, Balbriggan 1904-1942 (Part 1)

Paper: 335

Lecture: 2019

Author: Whearity, Peter, F

Report by: Oona Roycroft

Synopsis: An overview of the milling and bakery trade in Fingal and beyond in the nineteenth century. The setting up of Spicer’s bakery in Balbriggan, in 1904. Rivalry with other bakeries including Ennis’s based at Skerries Mills, especially over the Poor Law contracts, providing bread to the workhouse. The rules about flour during the First World War. Industrial relations and striking bread van drivers in 1918. The various members of the bakery workforce over the years.

Industrial history, social history, family history

69 pages plus 6 pages of notes