Daren bread was a brown, but not wholemeal loaf. It was once a well known style of bread and street adverts for it still exist around the country. Often these adverts emphasise the health benefits of this type of bread and also its suitability for invalids. It was a ‘germ’ bread, rich in wheat germ which increased the level of a number of vital nutrients such as vitamin E, folic acid and various trace elements, essential to health.
Bread made to the Daren recipe was baked at Walton’s store in Market Lavington. Mr Walton had extensive premises on both sides of White Street around the turn of the twentieth century. His shop and its employees have been seen on these pages before.
But today we look at an advertising card for Daren Bread.
Card advertising daren Bread to be found at Market Lavington Museum
This was, presumably, made for use by various bakers and then over-stamped with the local firm’s name.
The bread was baked and sold at Mr Waltons lavington Supply Stores
Daren bread seems to have vanished entirely. Does anyone have the recipe?
Tags: bread, Market Lavington, Museum, Shop, trade
Market Lavington Museum 
May 20, 2012 at 8:57 pm |
Hi,
When my Dad was a small boy in 1938, he appeared in an advert in the Daily Mirror for Daren Bread. The caption read he’s a different boy now he gets Daren each day. He’s brighter than he was. Sturdier. Less susceptible to ailments and he’s put on weight.
I still have a faded copy.
May 20, 2012 at 9:00 pm |
How lovely. We still haven’t been able to find out what was special about Daren Bread but the ad makes a lot of claims!
Rog (Curator)
March 26, 2013 at 2:38 pm |
Daren bread was made from Daren flour and was similar to Hovis wheatgerm bread. Daren was a competitor to Hovis and the miller that produced Daren flour went bankrupt. The business was acquired by Ranks in the 1930s and eventually Ranks merged with Hovis McDougall in early 1960s. As Hovis was the much better selling brand the Daren brand was gradually phased out. I can remember baking Daren bread as a bakery student in the late 1960s, but it had disappeared a few years later.
March 26, 2013 at 2:44 pm |
Lovely information – thanks very much. This page gets looked at quite frequently so your info will help many.
Cheers
Rog
Curator
March 22, 2015 at 6:06 am
I was prompted to google for Daren bread after seeing a painted sign on a building whilst on the spa valley railway. Groombridge bakery was who the as is for and it says to ask for Daren bread. They were award winners in the 1980s… I wonder if they are still open and still making it.
March 22, 2015 at 7:11 am
I have seen that sign too but was unable, later, to trace the company on the web. I understand that Daren bread was aHovis rival and very similar.
Rog
Curator
June 26, 2015 at 9:38 am |
Hi we just bought an old bakery that we’re renovating. We have discovered loads of original bake tins in the loft – Youma, Cremalt, Daren & Turog printed on them. No idea what to do with them all though!? Any suggestions?
June 26, 2015 at 6:12 pm |
How about baking bread? Oer more seriously offer them to your local museum and failing that have a car boot sale stall.
Rog
Curator
November 14, 2015 at 10:30 pm |
Hi there, Just wondering if Mark Stuckey still has a Daren bread tin which he would be willing to sell to me. I would absolutely love to get one for a friend called Daren. He has wanted one for a long time.
November 16, 2015 at 7:19 am
Hi, yes I do – in fact I was about to this week sell the job lot on an eBay auction. If you email me I’ll give you the options, sizes & send you some pics. Kind regards Mark
Email: markjohnstuckey@gmail.com
November 15, 2015 at 9:45 pm |
I’m looking for any Daren bread items, our house is a former daren bread bakery and it would be great to have a few items around the place, can anyone help?
November 16, 2015 at 7:23 am
Yes I have various original embossed bread tins for sale from our old bakery. Email me & I’ll send you sizes & pics markjohnstuckey@gmail.com
Kind regards
Mark
December 19, 2015 at 7:30 am
I would just like to say thanks to Mark Stuckey for kindly supplying me with some Daren bread tins, they look great in our former bakery, we may even try baking some bread 🙂
December 19, 2015 at 8:13 am
Do make some bread. It’s what the tins are for.
Rog
Curator
August 23, 2015 at 2:15 pm |
My father was a master baker, when he died I inherited two bread tins with Daren printed on them, is there a value to them?
August 23, 2015 at 4:06 pm |
We have no idea about cash values. Sorry.
October 30, 2016 at 7:41 pm |
i have a certificate hanging on my kitchen wall, given to my uncle for maintaining a consistently high standard in the manufacture of Daren bread. dated 1930.
March 5, 2018 at 11:16 am |
The Royal Victoria Mill at Dartford,Kent situated as a corn mill on the River Darent in the Darenth valley was I believe the original source of Daren bread and the flour thereof – The name Daren was probably abbreviated from Darent or Darenth,the water force originally driving the stones that ground the first flour. The building still stands at the bottom of East Hill,Dartford. The upper two floors were taken down,the remaining lower two floors serve as the RAFA and joint forces Club,functioning still today in 2018. Picture can be supplied.
August 10, 2018 at 3:21 am |
My grandfather, John Wilkins, master baker of Lee, London, was credited with patenting the recipe for Daren bread (late 19th century?). I am unable to find the official patent list in London to verify.. Can anyone help.
Stella Curran, Queensland
October 19, 2019 at 11:55 am |
My mum told me i was named after Daren Bread ,
And most people spell my name with 2 r in it but has one
April 9, 2022 at 1:18 pm |
My great-great-grandfather originated Daren. His name was a baker in London and his name was John Wilkins.
April 9, 2022 at 1:20 pm |
I meant to say, His name was John Wilkins and his family lived Lewisham.
April 9, 2022 at 1:23 pm |
I’ve just noticed Stella Curran’s post. I’ve think I’ve found a long-lost relative.