Mrs bridges, famous chutneys and pickles

Mrs Bridges or Kate to a very select few, began her life ‘in service’ as an under cook to ‘respectable’ families in the countryside of Victorian England. From those early days she began collecting recipes or receipts as they were then called, and her repertoire spanned from simple country cooking to dishes in the fine French fashion.

Kate Bridges earned the honorary title of ‘Mrs’ Bridges when she became Cook to one of the leading Edwardian families, and London socialites, Lady and Richard Bellamy.

Mrs Bridges collected her receipts of Chutney Sauces Jellies and Pickle for dishes which would grace real banquets as well as ‘below the stairs’ suppers. She was inspired by the works of Mrs Beeton, and encouraged by her employer Lady Marjorie, Mrs Bridges drew her receipts into a book called “Practical Household Cookery” which was published in 1905.

Mrs Bridges was immortalised in the long running 1970’s series ‘Upstairs Downstairs’ where, along with the Butler Mr Hudson, she reigned ‘downstairs’ producing many things including jams, marmalades and condiments.