Through an engaging presentation of historical records and captivating photographs, local historian Eleanor Whitehead will provide a fascinating glimpse into the social history of the era. The talk will highlight Chivers and Sons’ technical achievements, including ground-breaking quality control measures, Europe’s first large-scale canning operations in the 1890s, the development of vegetable canning in the 1930s, and their support for fruit cold storage research during the 1920s.

Chivers labelled products are no longer found on British supermarket shelves which is a great shame considering their manufacturing legacy. When the Chivers farming family decided to enter the preserves market in 1873 during a plum fruit glut they took product quality (lack of notorious Victorian additives) very seriously. Within 20 years they were the European leader in fruit bottling, canning as well as jellies and jams. They went on to perfect the canning of vegetables in 1930, were joint founders of Birdseye and developed the first palatable dehydrated potato product remembered as POM the forerunner of Smash. Until the mid-1950s the family-owned company bought from multiple independent fruit growers north of Cambridge to supplement their own fruit production. Their Huntingdon factory was supplied by local vegetable farmers supported by company fieldsmen. The success of the firm could be put down to their innovative production methods and the hundreds of patents granted over 86 years.

This talk takes place at Ross Street Community Centre which is fully accessible. Doors open at 7pm and the talk starts at 7:30pm. Tea and bscuits provided. Admission £3.

Note as audience numbers are unpredictable we urge people to arrive early so as not to be turned away if we reach capacity.

Date Tuesday 9 June 2026
Time 7:30pm – 9pm
Location Ross St Community Centre, Ross Street, Cambridge CB1 3UZ
Admission £3

https://www.millroadhistory.org.uk