A facsimile reproduction of a Victorian Recipe Book: A Handwritten Book of Family Receipts started by Mrs C A Allott of Sheffield, (England), 1860 (Hardback)

A signed copy of this book is available to customers in the UK, perfect for gifting or adding a personal touch to your collection.

216 x 127 mm (approx. 8.5 x 5 inches), 115 pages of household recipes, 144 pages including Mary's original A-Z index, black and white, 100gsm

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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 English 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.

Would you like to find out more about Mary, the woman who wrote this personal recipe book?

Join the waitlist for Mary's biography here

A facsimile reproduction of a Victorian Recipe Book: A Handwritten Book of Family Receipts started by Mrs C A Allott of Sheffield, (England), 1860 (Hardback)

Mary Allott nee Hopkinson's inscription on the inside cover of her recipe book

A facsimile reproduction of a Victorian Recipe Book: A Handwritten Book of Family Receipts started by Mrs C A Allott of Sheffield, (England), 1860 (Hardback) p 42 & p 43.

Allott recipe book index 'A'

Allott recipe book index 'B'

Allott recipe book index 'C'

Allott recipe book index 'D'

Allott recipe book index 'E'

Allott recipe book index 'F'