18 Iver Soup Shop
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18 Extract from an account of a village soup shop at Iver in the county of Bucks. by Mrs Bernard. pp 140-145 Dated 2nd Nov 1797. In October 1796, a village soup shop was set up at Iver, in the county of Buckingham. The most proper person that occurred for the purpose, was the wife of Richard Learner, an industrious man, who had lost a leg by an accident in the course of his labour; and who, notwithstanding that disadvantage had brought up a large family decently and creditably, without parochial relief. - She was an industrious and notable woman, and had lived in a family as a kitchen maid. She attended, by desire, several times to see the soup made, which she afterwards took home for the use of her own family. She was then informed, that if she could make the same kind of soup twice a week during the winter, it would be a benefit to her poor neighbours, and a considerable advantage to herself; that she should be furnished with the receipt, and the necessary utensils and materials to set up her shop; which consisted of a tin pot that contained four gallons, and a bushel of split pease; and that we would purchase of her tickets, or give orders for soup, for her poor neighbours at threepence a quart; besides recommending to others, to purchase of her similar tickets for other poor persons, whom they wished to be of use to. The advantages, which this proposal held out to her, were these; that the soup, which she sold at three-pence a quart, she could make for half that money: that therefore if she could get by the tickets, and by chance customers, a sale of only eight gallons a week (which was about her average) her profit, without interrupting any of her other work, would be very little less than four shillings a week; besides the comfort, of which she seemed fully to feel the benefit, but which it was much easier for her to enjoy than describe, of being in the midst of a cook shop. What happened in the present case, is what will hardly ever fail to happen in similar cases: there were few poor families in the parish, but what, placed on some list or other, received a good meal, to take home twice or oftener each week, to their houses. The following is a copy of the memorandum made for the subscribers. The pease soup to be continued twice a week from 12 November to 12 May. Every subscriber, of one shilling per week, may recommend 4 persons, or families, who shall be entitled to a quart of soup a week, and so in proportion whether more or less; or may direct the distribution of the like quantity of four quarts, as they shall think fit. N.B. - The soup may be purchased or ordered for any poor family at three-pence a quart, or three-halfpence a pint. The misfortune of common alms is too frequently the increase of vice and beggary. In the present instance, every thing that was given, went substantially to the support and maintenance of the persons for whom it was intended, and besides this, one deserving woman received a very comfortable addition to her means of subsistence. The receipt was as follows :- being that originally prepared for the cook shop, lately set up in the colonnade on the Foundling estate, but now moved to Fulwood's Rents Gray's Inn. Take two gallons and a half of water; a quart of split pease, previously soaked in cold water for 24 hours; two pound of potatoes, that had been well boiled the day before, skimmed and mashed; herbs, salt, pepper, and two onions; and boil them very gently together for 5 hours, covering it closely up, and allowing as little evaporation or steam rom it as may be. Then set it by to cool. It will produce rather han two gallons of soup; and if properly made, there will be no sediment, but the whole will be blended and mixed together, when it is warmed for use. Observations. Source:
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