Biscuits for the Connoisseur : leaflet issued by A. Romary & Coy. Ltd., Tunbridge Wells : nd [c.1930] : woodcuts by John R. Biggs : 1

Romary's had quite a reputation as a manufacturer of specialist biscuits and indeed it is said that they continued to be made until the early 1980s because HM Queen enjoyed them - they are now unavailable. Romary's were founded by Alfred Romary in Tunbridge Wells in 1862 as biscuit makers and his fame spread when, in 1876, Queen Victoria visited the shop and so they gained a coveted Royal Warrant.

 

They became noted for 'fine' biscuits, especially their wafers. In 1926 they became a limited company in 1926 when they were bought out by a Mr. Lane. At some point, possibly prior to 1932, they became associated with another 'town' biscuit maker, the Norwich based Freeman's whose Norwich Hollow Biscuits continued to be produced. In 1935 they were acquired by York based Rowntree's and the bulk of production moved to a new bakery in Tunbridge Wells. Rowntree's closed the Kent sites in 1958 and it is possible there was a lull in production as it appears to have been 1963 before production was restarted in the Rowntree's Glasgow factory - apparently to honour the desires of HM The Queen! Sadly they stopped manufacturing in 1981 and since then Rowntree's and the recipes have vanished into the vast maw of Nestlé.

 

Romary's also had high standards of publicity and package design as can be seen here. This is a small, undated folding leaflet that probably dates to the early 1930s, given the dates mentioned and the fact that Freeman's Norwich Hollows are mentioned. The leaflet is enlivened by five woodcuts by John Biggs. Derby born Biggs was a noted teacher, artist and illsutartor who studied at Derby Art College (1929 - 31) before continuing his studies at the Central School in London from 1931 - 1933. An early commission in 1938 was for the Penguin Books "Illustrated Classics" edition of Robinson Crusoe. He later went into to teaching at Brighton College. His woodcuts here show Tunbridge Wells, the Romary premises and shop as well as the baking of biscuits. The back cover shows a vignette the company often used; "Who's had all the 'Romary's?"

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