Blackpool rock

[Aberman]

Who is credited with the invention of the confection - a stick of rock?

[cazbatt]

The History of BLACKPOOL ROCK

There is no documented history of lettered rock, it is folklore passed on from father to son. it is known, that in the early 1800�s, sugar boilers were putting patterns and letters through sticks of rock and in the late 1800�s it was simply a question of adapting the industry to the demands of the market at the seaside

In the 1700's a sugar boiler would just have a coke fire, a copper pan, and a marble slab for his equipment, and his ingredients would be sugar, cream of tartar, flavouring and colouring. he would then sell them in his own shop or take them to market

Blackpool Rock was first made in Dewsbury in Yorkshire. Ben Bullock, who was a sugar boiler with his own factory in Dewsbury, returned from a holiday in Blackpool in 1887 and made the first batch of Blackpool Rock. When the idea occurred to him or was suggested to him that he should put �Blackpool Rock� through the centre of the rock he no doubt thought it was worth a try!

At the turn of the century, rock was so popular that it was inevitable that eventually manufacturers would set up in business in the resort and in 1902 the first quantity is said to have been made here.

In the latter years of the last century, anyone with anything to sell, or entertainers, would gather on the beach opposite the New Inn and the Tower. This was the most popular part of the beach, amongst the donkeys and patent medicine sellers, the rock sellers would set up their stalls.