A look back at Carter’s Bakery in Warrington, destroyed by fire in 1917, impacting the town’s food supply during World War One.
This building is super important for Warrington. A history book highlights it. It praises Warrington’s most famous spots. Janice Hayes wrote about it in her book, “Warrington in 50 Buildings.”
Carter’s new place finished up in nineteen-oh-seven. It sat near their old Patten Lane store. Sadly, a fire broke out on August 8, nineteen-seventeen. An electrical fault caused it early that morning there.
The fire spread super fast. Grain, flour, and cattle food helped it along. Warrington’s fire crew fought for hours. They couldn’t save the food or the bakery. The damage totalled over twenty-two thousand pounds. They hadn’t fully insured the building.
This fire really hurt Warrington’s food supply. Nineteen-seventeen was during World War One. The war caused food shortages everywhere.
Food restrictions lasted during the wartime period. German submarines attacked British ships. Britain needed to import lots of food. It took three years to reopen the Bridge Street shop. Later, it became a fancy cafe and tea room. Many people remember it that way better.