Helen Parker-Drabble | Author | Speaker | Former counsellor | Family historian

Available in my shop as an eBook 978-1-9162466-4-5 , paperback 978-1-9162466-5-2 or hardback 978-1-9162466-6-9.

What did the 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.

Available in my shop

See a sample here

Here's Mary's A-Z