Pasties in the Archives

In the on-going search for the true historical origins of the Cornish Pasty, this page shows the results from searching for records in the national archives using "pasty" or "pasties" as keywords.

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Search using "pasty" as the keyword

The individual records, in chronological order

MORDAUNT OF WALTON

Creator(s):
Mordaunt family, baronets, of Walton, Warwickshire

CALENDAR OF MORDAUNT LETTERS - ref. CR 1368
   FILE - Letters from Lady Penelope to her husband, Sir John Mordaunt - ref.  CR 1368 VOL 1/21-48  - date: 1699-1705
      item:  [no title] - ref.  CR 1368 Vol 1/34  - date: 4 Sept 1701
         [from Scope and Content] Lady Penelope continues to suffer from toothache and has been advised that she will not be free from it until she has been brought to bed. Meanwhile she has been blooded but she is thin which she attributes to pain and lack of sleep. At dinner Lord Alinton, Cousin Manwaring, Sir John's sister and their daughter Pen have all eaten venison pasty and she has baked some in a pot for Sir John. She tells him that she has had some mangoes done. She has lost a ten pound bill and the coach is not yet put together. She notes that Sir John is to return by Bedford. The weather is extremely hot and Lady Penelope will not allow Penelope to travel as she has been ill. Lord Rochester dined at Chester and Lord Bath has fatally shot himself in bed. [He survived his father by twelve days after succeeding to the title].

TREMAYNE FAMILY OF HELIGAN, ST. EWE

Creator(s):
Tremayne family of St Ewe, Cornwall

Personal

   FOOD (RECIPES)
      FILE  [no title] - ref.  T/1363/14  - date: nd
         [from Scope and Content] Method for cooking Venison Pasty (?)

      FILE  [no title] - ref.  T/1363/17  - date: 1746
         [from Scope and Content] A recipe for making 'Venison Pasty?' (the same as DDT 1363/14), with a letter 1746.

Records of the Stratford-upon-Avon Corporation

Creator(s):
Stratford-upon-Avon Corporation

Records of transferred organizations

   Records of the Guild of the Holy Cross - ref. BRT1

      Other documents mainly concerning the Guild of the Holy Cross

         Guild Accounts
            FILE  [no title] - ref.  BRT1/3/55  - date: 1449-1450
               [from Scope and Content] Necessary expenses. (Expenses incurred for victuals, &c., in the Guild Hall, on Monday next after the Feast of the Translation of St. Thomas the Martyr, 27 Henry VI., at the rendering of the Accounts; for bread, beer, meats, "onyons," &c. Also for victuals bought for the entertainment to John Hubande, John Hugford, Esquire, and the Aldermen and Proctors, at the conference between John Hubande and the Guild; for bread, beer, lamb, "flowre," bought for a venison pasty, &c.)
               [from Scope and Content] Necessary expenses. (Expenses in the Guild Hall in entertaining Thomas Middleton, Esquire, on Thursday next after the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. One of the items is 9d for �lb. of pepper, "clowys, and masis, and safron" for the venison pasty are also mentioned.)

Smith Hill Child Family of North Staffordshire

Creator(s):
Child family, baronets, of Stallington Hall, Staffordshire

Hill Title

   Miscellaneous Title

      Sussex
         FILE  [no title] - ref.  D1229/1/7/32  - date: 1645
            [from Scope and Content] Quitclaim by Thomas Elphick and Samuel Fuller to Stephen French, of all their lands, tenements and woods called Pikely and the manor of Pasty Down in Chittingly and Hellingly: 12 November.

ARCHIVE OF THE MARYON-WILSON FAMILY OF SEARLES IN FLETCHING

Creator(s):
Wilson, Maryon-, family of Searles, Sussex
Maryon-Wilson family of Searles, Sussex
Leach family of Fletching, Sussex
Wilson family of Fletching, East Sussex

TITLE DEEDS

   Title deeds - Wilson properties: Newick

      Goldbridge Farm and estate
         FILE - Copy settlement - ref.  SRL/5/1/38  - date: 16 Aug 1792
            [from Scope and Content] Manor of Filsham, capital messuage called Filsham Farm in St Leonards and Hollington, Wildeyes Farm (80a) in St Leonards and Hollington, messuage and land in Hollington (150a), messuage and lands in Heathfield and Hellingly called Cowden Farm (200a), messuage in Hellingly and Heathfield called Marl Green (160a), capital messuage called Stream House and Farm (220a) iin Chiddingly, messuage called Uptons Cottage in Chiddingly, water corn mill (formerly a forge and furnace) in Chiddingly, farm and marshlands called Luggear (30a) at Downash in Hailsham; farm and lands in East Guldeford (100a); Manor of Pickley and Pasty Down; Pickly Plain Lands (33a) in Chiddingly, messuage called Goldbridge Farm (120a) in Newick; messuage called Jamyns Tenement and pieces of land (named) (40a) in Ninfield, piece of meadow (4a) in Ninfield near Boreham Bridge

Hawkshead-Talbot of Chorley

Creator(s):
Talbot, Hawkshead-, family of Chorley, Lancashire
Hawkshead-Talbot, family of Chorley, Lancashire

Estate Management

   Bonds, Obligations & Arbitrations - ref. DDHK 5/4

      Parker Estates
         FILE  [no title] - ref.  DDHK 5/4/4  - date: 1453
            [from Scope and Content] Bond in 20 marks of Reginald Powys of Wigan, yeoman, John Sandbroke of Wigan, gentleman, William Jelybronde of Charnock, gentleman and William Pasty of the authority and [badge] of London with Hugh Parker gentleman

Enys of Enys

Creator(s):
Enys family of Enys, Cornwall

FROM THE TIME OF SAMUEL ENYS ONWARDS 1647-1933

   MINING.

      MINING SETTS AND LICENCES granted by the Enyses.

         St. Agnes.

            Wheal Dreath, Eastern and Western.
               FILE  [no title] - ref.  EN/1502  - date: 1785
                  [from Scope and Content] Tin sett (Walter Tregellas and partners in Wheal Dreath mine) of Great Wheal Park, Little Wheal Park, Wheal Park bean, Wheal Pasty, Wheal Pye, Little Wheal Pye, East Engine bounds, West Engine bounds and Wheal-an-Kea bounds and part of Wheal Trevaunance bounds, all in Eastern Wheal Dreath mine.

            Wheal Pye.
               FILE  [no title] - ref.  EN/1509  - date: 1822-23
                  [from Scope and Content] Applications by Thos. Seymour for setts of Wheal Pye 1822-3; tin sett (Thos. Seymour and coadventurers in Wheal Pye mine) of Wheal Pasty, Wheal Pye and Wheal Trevaunance bounds 1823.

CARLYON OF TREGREHAN

Creator(s):
Carlyon family of Tregrehan, Cornwall

TITLE DEEDS AND LEASES.

   LANLIVERY

      LEASES

         Bloughan
            FILE  [no title] - ref.  CN/814  - date: 15 July 1749
               [from Scope and Content] Also recites Wm. S.'s will; bequeathed to Rebecca a round table, a square table, a set of chested drawers, a tablecloth, 6 diaper napkins, 3 silver meat spoons, 6 silver teaspoons, 6 pewter dishes, 12 pewter plates, 1 pewter pasty pan, 1 brass pot, 1 large brass pan, 1 middle-sized brass pan, all now at the dwelling-house at Pill; all other household goods left to Wm. jun., including best bed performed which Rebecca had by her husband's will.

Documents of the Garrett Family of Ramsgate

Creator(s):
Garrett family of Ramsgate


TITLE DEEDS

   Ash-next-Sandwich

      Messuage and farm called Weddington
         [from Scope and Content] (165a in 1638, 247a in c 1800) sold to John Garrett of St. Laurence, Thanet, mariner 1714, and recited as under contract for sale by J.G. of Ellington St. L. Esq., 1810; also land (12a) at Oxwell field, Ash; also bdl. 2 only 2 messuages at Weddington; manor of Udimere with lands in U., Brede and Rye, Streame house farm (160a) and Streame furnace in Chiddingleigh, manor and farm called Pickly and Pasty down (39a) in C. and Hailsham (co. Sussex);

THE ADAMS FAMILY OF LITCOTT, LANEAST, AND BADHARLICK, EGLOSKERRY

Creator(s):
Adams family of Laneast, Cornwall

PAPERS OF JOHN COUCH ADAMS

   CORRESPONDENCE

      Letters to his family from St. John's College, Cambridge.
         FILE  [no title] - ref.  AM/283  - date: 21 Oct. 1840
            [from Scope and Content] To parents: describes journey from Launceston; ate lamb pasty on the way

PHOTOGRAPHS, POSTCARDS AND PRINTS

   Postcards: Great Britain

      Cornwalls
         FILE  [no title] - ref.  AM/1249/28  - date: c.1920
            [from Scope and Content] "Good auld Pasty"

WHITFORDS OF ST. COLUMB MAJOR.

Creator(s):
Whitfords and Sons, St Columb Major, Cornwall solicitors
Paynter and Whitford, St Columb Major, Cornwall solicitors


Hearle family of Penryn

   SCATTERED LANDS

      LEASES

         WENDRON

            Carthew Wollas
               FILE  [no title] - ref.  WH/1/3127/1,2  - date: 30 Mar. 1742
                  [from Scope and Content] Also household goods and furniture, being 6 brass pans, a cupboard, hanging press, 2 long table boards, frames and forms, feather-bed, bolster and pillows, two bedsteads and bedding, 20 pewter plates, 7 pewter dishes, a pewter pasty-pan and basin, 2 iron pots and an iron kettle.

MORAVIAN CHURCH

Creator(s):
Moravian Church, Bedfordshire

THE LADIES SCHOOL
   FILE - Bundle of bills and receipts - ref.  MO745/1-46  - date: 1869 - 1860
      item: T Bithray & Son pasty cooks (1) - ref.  MO745/6 [n.d.]

Cornwall Quarter Sessions Records

Creator(s):
Cornwall Quarter Sessions, c 1350-1970

Quarter Sessions Order Books - ref. QS/1
   FILE - Quarter Sessions Order Book - ref.  QS/1/11  - date: April 1825-Jan 1831
      item: Sessions held at Lostwithiel - ref.  QS/1/11/137-167  - date: 11 July 1826
         [from Scope and Content] Philip Floyd of Gwinear, lab., indicted for taking a pasty and a linen cloth, value 6d., property of Richard Osborne: fourteen days in Bodmin gaol.

The William Blyth Gerish Collection

Creator(s):
Blyth Gerish, William, fl 1898-1915, of Hertfordshire
Gerish, William, Blyth, fl 1898-1915, of Hertfordshire

FILE - PARISHES OF GREAT GADDESDEN AND LITTLE GADDESDEN - ref.  D/EGr/30  - date: undated
   [from Scope and Content] Cherry Pasties (Pasty Feasts)

Cornish postcards

FILE  [no title] - ref.  2160/1  - date: c1900
   [from Scope and Content] Souvenir fold-out picture letter "Truro in a Pasty", views of Truro

EXMOOR ORAL HISTORY ARCHIVE

Oral History Recordings
   FILE - North Devon Record Office - ref.  B723/OHA10  - date: 2001
      [from Scope and Content] Born Worle 1926, Weston-Super-Mare, father's death, move to Porlock, school, Villes Lane, Porlock Hill motor trials, Wescotts, Minehead school, fracturing skull, Minehead Hospital, missing school, learning German, Air Training Corps, Scouts Fellowship, aspects of scouting, including careers, Ventures and girls, Scouts now, visit to Bulgaria, National Service, RAMC, Jack Cook, Austria, Porlock changes, trusting people, Keynsham Scouts, Stan Lock, Toc H, wartime, evacuees, torpedoed ships, Porlock Beach plane crash, German prisoners, Home Guard, souvenir hunters, playing on the plane, Glen Lodge, dialect, bakery, Doverhay Farm accounts, Peep Out turbine, wartime pasty making, moulding and scaling, peace, Lynch Flour Mill, factory bread, selling business, ovens, caf�, coaches, Lynmouth Flood, Brendon, Exford, 1960 Porlock flood, children, writing Porlock books, recording people.

Search using "pasties" as the keyword

Manuscripts

Creator(s):
Lambeth Palace Library

[Access Conditions]
Access conditions are displayed on the Library's website: http://www.lambethpalacelibrary.org

Shrewsbury Papers
   FILE - Shrewsbury Papers - ref.  MS.695  - date: 1471-1598
      [from Scope and Content] The same to the same, 18 September 1567, about his purchase from the Earl of land at Harthill and Woodhall [co. York], and about six red deer pasties sent to him. A postscript contains a statement of account between them. 1p. Endorsed.

   FILE - Shrewsbury Papers - ref.  MS.697  - date: 1549-1584
      [from Scope and Content] The Earl of Shrewsbury to Thomas Baldwin, at Shrewsbury House, London, from Sheffield, 8 January 1579/80, informing him of the despatch of 24 pasties to be distributed to the Lord Chancellor, the Lord Chief Justice, the Master of the Rolls and others. 1p. Seal. Endorsed.

   FILE - Shrewsbury Papers - ref.  MS.698  - date: 1539-1599
      [from Scope and Content] William Deckenson, bailiff [of Sheffield], to [the Earl of Shrewsbury], from Sheffield, 29 September 1586, giving details of sums of money paid, including some for 'your newe buyldings at your manour;' transactions at the fairs at Chesterfield, [co. Derby], and Barnsley, [co. York]; fines paid by copyholders at Whitchurch, [co. Salop.] and recommendations for the conduct of business in the manorial court; payment to Smith of London, the Earl's tailor; venison pasties into which Mrs. [Elinor] Brytten had put so much wine and spirit that they had broken in transit. 3pp. Address: my Lorde.

   FILE - Shrewsbury Papers - ref.  MS.699  - date: 1578-1598
      [from Scope and Content] The Earl of Shrewsbury to Thomas Baldwine, at Shrewsbury House, London, from Sheffield, 14 October 1580, with directions for the payment of the rent of Hurst Park, and for the distribution of 70 pasties of red deer to the Earl of Leicester, Roger Manners, Sir Henry Tirrell, Sir Walter Mildmay, Sir Ralph Sadler, Sir Christopher Hatton, the Comptroller of the Royal Household and others. �p. Seal. Endorsed.
      [from Scope and Content] Phillip Marvyn to Thomas Balwyn at Shrewsbury House, [London], or in his absence to [ ] Jakson at the Sign of the Checker in Dowgate, from Sheffield Manor, 7 January 1580/1, sending half a hind baked into 4 pasties to be forwarded to his brother Sir James Marvyn near Chicklade, [co. Wilt.]. 1p. Endorsed.

   FILE - Shrewsbury Papers - ref.  MS.705  - date: c.1547-1609
      [from Scope and Content] Robert Bradshaa to [the Earl of Shrewsbury], from Worksop, 5 December no year, about wine, fish, pasties, venison, pheasants etc.to be sent to Chelsea and Sheffield for Christmas; the price of ore and other business matters. 1p. Address: my lorde.

SANDWICH BOROUGH

Creator(s):
Sandwich Borough

[Access Conditions]
Records are open for consultation unless otherwise indicated.

FINANCIAL RECORDS

   Treasurers Accounts - ref. Sa/FAt
      FILE - Treasurer's volumes - ref.  Sa/FAt/39  - date: 1639-1663
         [from Scope and Content] Gift of venison from Sir Edward Parteridge, Sept. 1645, and details of making it into pasties; reference to 'my lord general's coming', ante April, 1652

Manuscripts

Creator(s):
Lambeth Palace Library

[Access Conditions]
Access conditions are displayed on the Library's website: http://www.lambethpalacelibrary.org

Talbot Papers
   FILE - Talbot Papers - ref.  MS.3192  - date: 1334-1557
      [from Scope and Content] Thomas Alen to the Earl of Shrewsbury, from Coldharbour, 10 May [1516]. He has sent by the bearer, Richard Woodhouse, carrier of Rotherham, ten pasties of congers baked at Coldharbour by the Earl's old servant, William Coke. He spoke yesterday with [Christopher] Ursewick, who told him that the Earl of Northumberland will be released today [cf. folio 31]. He asks permission to go to Canterbury on a pilgrimage. 1p. Endorsed. (Edmund Lodge, Illustrations of British History (second edition, 1838), i.15)
      [from Scope and Content] Thomas Alen to the Earl of Shrewsbury, from Coldharbour, 28 May [1516]. Mr. Ursewick has sent up by this bearer, the carrier of Derby [Thomas Parr], ten pasties of baked conger. He has had the Earl's letter ordering him to help Robert Kniveton towards Tournai [cf. MS.3206 folio 25]. He will enquire the cost of the beds the Earl requires. Sir William Marney is to be married. 1p. Endorsed.

   FILE - Talbot Papers - ref.  MS.3198  - date: 1550-1590
      [from Scope and Content] The Earl of Shrewsbury to Thomas Baldwin at Coldharbour, [Sheffield], 16 October 1583, sending 36 venison pasties as gifts and asking for another case with six bottles to be made for him 'such as those I have to carry abroad with me for my ale'. 1p. Clerk's hand, subscribed and signed. Endorsed. Address.

   FILE - Talbot Papers - ref.  MS.3201  - date: 1589-1605
      [from Scope and Content] Thomas [Sackville,] Earl of Dorset to the Earl of Shrewsbury, from New College, Oxford, 25 August 1605, thanking him for a present of sixteen pasties of red deer. 1p. Endorsed. Address in seventh Earl's hand.

   FILE - Talbot Papers - ref.  MS.3206  - date: 1499-1580
      [from Scope and Content] The Earl of Shrewsbury to Sir William Cecil, Principal Secretary to the Queen, from Sheffield Lodge, 12 October 1563, asking him to accept six pasties as a token of his good will. He has arrested a coiner in Sheffield, 'an offender of rare kind in this country'. He has sent the offender to York and his tools to the Council of the North. He sends Cecil two samples of his work. 1p. Clerk's hand, signed. Endorsed. Address. (W. de G. Birch, 'Original Documents Relating to Sheffield, principally in connection with Mary Queen of Scots', Journal of the British Archaeological Association (March, 1874), p.310)
      [from Scope and Content] The Earl of Shrewsbury to Thomas Baldwin at Shrewsbury Place, London, from Sheffield, 14 November 1579, sending fourteen pasties of hind, six for [Edwin Sandys,] Archbishop of York, six for Roger Manners and two to be disposed of at Baldwin's discretion. There is trouble with Glossopdale tenants again, refusing to pay their rents. 1p. Endorsed.

Woburn-Hockliffe Highway Acts; Sheriff's quietus, Francis Wingate; Manor of Toddington Court Roll; and Various Personal Papers

Further deposit from Mr R B Hobourn, late of 12 Bedford Street, Woburn in March 1969
   FILE  [no title] - ref.  X 21/767  - date: 1906 - 1913
      [from Scope and Content] /6 Postcard of Cornish pasties entitled 'This is our denner'. F Frith & Co Ltd, Reigate. Postmarked 1913

MORE, LATER MORE MOLYNEUX FAMILY OF LOSELEY PARK, GUILDFORD, LOOSE CORRESPONDENCE AND PAPERS, PART II

[Access Conditions]
There are no access restrictions.

LETTERS OF THE TIME OF SIR POYNINGS MORE (1606-1649) AND SIR WILLIAM MORE (1644-1684) - ref. LM/COR/6/

   FILE - Letter from James Gresham, Haslemere, to Sir William More which was subsequently sent by More to Mr [Richard] Symmes, Guildford. - Gresham refers to Mr Symmes's absence from the next court session, which he had expected to be told of directly, but failed to hear through the bailiff Chitty. - It is now too late to change the date of the court, so if Symmes cannot come, he should send his man with the last year's court roll. - Symmes's absence has caused some inconvenience as 'the meat and drink is provided and pasties are making', not just for the steward but for both the juries and the other freeholders. - Gresham adds a postscript stating that the court could be mocked if people are warned of a court session and the date is not kept. - [Not in Gresham's usual hand.] Sir William More adds a note to Mr Symmes requesting 'that favour of you or else to send your man Mr Bayley' [to attend]. - ref.  LM/COR/6/52  - date: 12 Apr 1680

Coulson family papers

Creator(s):
Coulson family of Penzance, Cornwall and London

LETTERS FROM THOMAS COULSON TO HIS SON WALTER COULSON, 1817, 1831-1845
   FILE  [no title] - ref.  X696/206  - date: 20 March 1841
      [from Scope and Content] Describes trip to Lamorna by donkey cart 'ate our pasties at Bosava Mill house...Hoskin family have been leassees...494 years...great doubts whether (brother Richard's) mind will ever to sound again...'; Rosevean

Bolventor Council School, formerly Bolventor Board School, Altarnun

Creator(s):
Bolventor Council School, Cornwall
Bolventor Board School, Cornwall

[Access Conditions]
THESE RECORDS ARE IMMEDIATELY AVAILABLE FOR RESEARCH EXCEPT FILES SALT2/2/1 AND SALT2/3/1-2 WHICH ARE CLOSED UNTIL 31 YEARS OLD AND FILES SALT2/4/2 AND SALT2/1/4 WHICH ARE CLOSED UNTIL 76 YEARS OLD

Other photographs
   FILE - Pupils eating pasties outside school - ref.  SALT2/4/51  - date: c 1913

The William Blyth Gerish Collection

Creator(s):
Blyth Gerish, William, fl 1898-1915, of Hertfordshire
Gerish, William, Blyth, fl 1898-1915, of Hertfordshire

FILE - PARISHES OF GREAT GADDESDEN AND LITTLE GADDESDEN - ref.  D/EGr/30  - date: undated
   [from Scope and Content] Cherry Pasties (Pasty Feasts)

Home Front

Creator(s):
The Second World War Experience, board of trustees

Joyce Garvey papers and ephemera
   FILE - Cartoon recipes - ref.  HF/LEEWW: 2003.2008.2  - date: 2003
      item: 'Corned Beef Turnovers' - ref.  HF/LEEWW: 2003.2008.2.3  - date: 2003
         [from Scope and Content] Cartoon cut from a wartime newspaper showing a recipe for making corned beef pasties.

Home Front

Creator(s):
Second World War Experience, board of trustees

[Access Conditions]
View by appointment.

Joyce Garvey papers and ephemera
   FILE - Cartoon recipes - ref.  HF/LEEWW: 2003.2008.2  - date: 2003
      item: 'Corned Beef Turnovers' - ref.  HF/LEEWW: 2003.2008.2.3  - date: 2003
         [from Scope and Content] Cartoon cut from a wartime newspaper showing a recipe for making corned beef pasties.

Much has been made of a reference to "Mrs Polwhele, 1746", and her recipe for a pasty. Our enquiries of Cornwall Records Office have not been able to find this item but here is a related record involving a cookery book from the Polwhele family, dated 1762. It does not mention "pasty" specifically. However, "1746" occurs in a record near the top of this page in connection with making venison pasties - see here.

Estate and family records of Polwhele of Polwhele, St. Clement

Creator(s):
Polwhele family of Polwhele, St Clement, Cornwall

[Note]
Recatalogued 1995

PUBLISHED WORKS

   Other published works

      FILE  [no title] - ref.  PW/145  - date: 1762
         [from Scope and Content] W. Gelleroy, The London Cook, or the Whole Art of Cookery made easy and familiar, Dublin

Acknowledgements: Thanks to the A2A website and Cornwall Record Office for permission to use their records on The Cornish Pasty web site (TP/The National Archives, Kew, 8 Dec 2008).