About Elizabeth RaffaldElizabeth was a Superwoman of her day, an author, innovator, investor and benefactor for the people of Manchester in the mid 18th century, just before industrialisation gripped the city. That she has been largely forgotten is shameful. Manchester has almost erased her from its history. From poor origins she rose to be a housekeeper at Arley Hall but on coming to Manchester in 1763 she began a formidable body of work to benefit Manchester. She began with a catering business, swiftly followed by its first employment agency, a shop and a cookery school. Her businesses were celebrated and in demand and outside catering was her forte before she branched out into writing.
Preceding Mrs Beeton by 100 years she produced a major cookbook, The Experienced English Housekeeper, which was a must-have cookbook containing 800 original recipes, . It was a huge success and sold across the country, reprinted 13 times, with an edition just for America. It included her invention of Bride cake together with the double icing method for celebration cakes; the first written recipes for Piccalilli and crumpets; an early version of a stock cube, and a recipe which is considered the forerunner of the Eccles cake. All recipes were her own, original ideas, unlike other cookbooks at the time. Not satisfied with this work she went on to compile the first ever trade directory of Manchester in 1772, updating and reissuing ever increasing 2 more volumes of it in 1773 and finally in 1781, shortly before she died. She invested in two local newspapers, The Manchester Mercury and Prescotts Journal. At the time they were the only newspapers in Manchester and would have failed without her financial support. Her next publishing venture was a manual for midwifery, co-written with the then primary surgeon of Manchester Charles White. This manuscript was completed but never printed in her name, presumably sold off by her alcoholic husband. She did all this while pregnant most of the time, constantly working in her own shops or pubs or outside catering, giving birth to at least nine children. Her husband degenerated into a suicidal alcoholic, frequently getting them into so much debt they had to sell off their businesses - a married woman then had no rights. She died of overwork at the age of 48 and was buried without her name on the headstone at St Marys church in Stockport. In 1852 an article in the Manchester Guardian pointed out, 'Mrs Raffald was an extraordinary person and deserves to have her name rescued, however imperfectly, from oblivion, and to be recorded as one of our Manchester authors and worthies of the eighteenth century.' Today a few people in our historic libraries are aware of her, but in general her name is unknown, her achievements uncelebrated, her only memorial a small plaque in Shambles Square. A book with a short summary of her life,' The Experienced English Housekeeper of Manchester' by Suze Appleton is available to buy in ebook or paperback on Amazon and to loan from Manchester and Stockport libraries. |
Timeline1733 - Born Elizabeth Whitaker in Doncaster
I 1748 - Went to work in domestic service in houses in Lincolnshire & Yorkshire I 1760 - Came to work at Arley Hall, Cheshire as Housekeeper I 1763 - Married the Head Gardener at Arley, John Raffald, and started work in Manchester, opening a catering business and staff employment register from their home I 1765 - Gave birth to her first daughter, Sarah I 1766 - moved her business from Fennel St into the Market Place in Manchester Gave birth to a second daughter, Emma I 1767 - Gave birth to another daughter, Grace I 1769 - Produced the first edition of her cookbook, The Experienced English Housekeeper, in 800 copies which each contained 800 recipes, all copies signed by her Gave birth to a daughter, Betty I 1770 - Gave birth to a daughter Anna but buried Grace at less than 3 years old I 1771 - Brought out a 2nd edition of the cookbook, increasing the number of recipes contained but only produced 400 copies Gave birth to twins, Mary and 'male'. I 1772 - Produced the first ever trade directory for Manchester and Salford, 60 pages Also moved to run the King's Head inn on Chapel St in Salford I 1773 - Brought out a revised edition of the directory, increased to 78 pages and a 3rd edition of the cookbook I 1774 - The 4th edition of the cookbook was issued and she had her last baby, Harriet I 1776 The 5th edition cookbook was issued I 1778 - 6th edition cookbook issued I 1779 - They left the King's Head in debt and went to run the Exchange coffee shop I 1780 - 7th edition cookbook issued She ran a catering stand at Kersal races I 1781 - Brought out a 3rd edition of the directory Died in April of a 'spasm' and was buried at St Mary's church, Stockport in the Raffald family vault I 1782 - The 8th edition of her cookbook, and 1st to contain an image of her, was issued I 1784-1806 - A further 5 editions of the cookbook were published along with many pirate editions I 1850s - All 3 directories were republished with an introduction singing her praises. I 1997 - Her cookbook was retyped and included an introduction about her by Roy Shipperbottom I 2015 - Suze Appleton started to give talks about her and produced a booklet of her story. She also nominated Elizabeth for a female statue for Manchester but she lost out to Emmeline Pankhurst I 2016 - Suze Appleton reproduced her cookbook in modern type and sought consent for a plaque to be installed in Stockport at the Arden Arms 2017 - March 3rd Plaque installed and a compendium of Elizabeth's works produced 'The Complete Elizabeth Raffald'. To see more go to Books |