What did Victorians eat? Taste the past with these handwritten family recipes
This faithful reproduction of an original manuscript provides a fascinating glimpse into mid-19th century culinary traditions.
In 1860, Mary Allott (née Hopkinson) began compiling her personal recipe book, a cherished collection that embodied the heart of middle-class domestic life. For Victorian women, exchanging recipes wasn’t just about cooking, it was a way to connect, share, and refine their domestic expertise. Successful recipes were gifts, strengthening the bonds between friends, families, and communities.
This facsimile edition preserves Mary’s 115 pages of recipes, or “receipts” as she called them, offering a rare treasure for family historians, food enthusiasts, and those curious about the lives of Victorian middle-class women.
Through them, you can relive the richness of one Victorian woman’s household by savouring the morsels of her past.
Purchase Links
UK readers: You can support an independent author and buy a replica of Mary’s recipe book A Facsimile Reproduction of a Handwritten Book of Victorian Family Receipts here or visit here
Outside of the UK: You can support an independent author and buy the ebook here or visit here.
Coming Soon
Unveiling Mary: The woman behind a personal Victorian recipe book
Step into the Vistorian age and discover the powerful story of Mary Allott/Parker née Hopkinson—a woman who cooked upa storm in the kitchen of life, blending adversity and reslience with the sweet taste of late love.
From her early years to the challenges of a turbulent marriage, motherhood, abandonment and caring for others, Mary’s experiences reflect the struggles and triumphs of middle-class women in her time.
Discover how Mary’s recipe book, started in 1860, gave her purpose, community and creative expression at a time of few choices for women.
If you would like to read an advance reader copy before it is published click on the ‘Join the Waitlist’ button here.
Also by Helen Parker-Drabble
A Victorian’s Inheritance
A window into Victorian lives—and what it means for ours
What psychological inheritance have you received from your ancestors?
We inherit more than heirlooms. The struggles, triumphs, and even traumas of our forebears can be handed down through generations, shaping who we are.
In A Victorian’s Inheritance, family historian and former counsellor Helen Parker-Drabble brings to life the working-class world of her Victorian grandfather, uncovering how his mother’s hardships, bereavements and alcoholism in 19th-century England left their indelible mark on him. Through a unique blend of family history, social analysis, and a groundbreaking approach, she reveals how addiction, grief, and mental health challenges can influence future generations.
This deeply personal, yet relatable, book invites you to reflect on your own family’s untold stories. Whether you’re an avid genealogist, a lover of Victorian history, or simply curious about how your ancestors’ lives have shaped your own, A Victorian’s Inheritance will inspire you to discover the hidden legacies of your family—and better understand yourself and your relations.
To read the first two chapters of A Victorian’s Inheritance click here
Purchase Links
UK readers: You can support an independent author and buy A Victorian’s Inheritance in ebook, paperback, large print and hardback formats from my shop here or visit your favourite store here.
Outside of the UK: You can support an independent author and buy the ebook A Victorian’s Inheritance from my shop here or or visit your favourite store here.
Reviews
“This easy-to-read ground-breaking book changed the way I think about my ancestors and living family” Jenny
“I found A Victorian’s Inheritance fascinating. I love the rich detail of life in a rural area in Victorian England.” — Gail Dixon, author and regular contributor to Who Do You Think You Are? magazine
More reviews here
Thank you for your support. It ecourages me to save more forgotten stories.
