Division 5.1 Specificity of the geographical area

Extensive research by a local historian has demonstrated that during the early and middle 19th century when the pies were first being produced on a commercial basis geographical and economic barriers would have limited production of the Melton Mowbray Pork Pie to the town of Melton Mowbray and its surrounding district.

The geographical area described in Section 4 is larger than the original area of production. This takes account of the fact that over time those barriers became less significant and recognises that production of the Melton Mowbray Pork Pie in accordance with the method of production described in Section 3.5 has taken place for 100 years in the wider area surrounding Melton Mowbray.

From the middle of the 18th century seasonal foxhunters began to centre their hunting activities on the town of Melton Mowbray. During the autumn and winter months, pigs were slaughtered, pork pies were made. These pies were carried in the pockets of the hunt servants to be eaten as snacks as they moved the horses around the villages at the convenience of the wealthy foxhunter. These delicious simple peasant pies soon came to the notice of the hard riding fox hunter who then began to carry them in pouches and pockets to eat while involved in the chase.

These wealthy seasonal hunters took such a liking to the splendid pies that were served on their breakfast table that they expected them to be served at their London clubs. In 1831, Edward Adcock commenced exporting pork pies from Melton Mowbray to London using the daily Leeds to London stagecoach. So the commercialisation and promotion of the Melton Mowbray pork pie began.

The railway age transformed the industry. Instead of using the daily horse-drawn stagecoaches to transport pies to London and other major cities, special carriages were commissioned on the railway system. Bakehouses were built close to Melton Mowbray station and the pies were transported across the United Kingdom and even to Australia, New Zealand and South Africa within the refrigerated holds of cargo ships returning to those countries. The fame of the pie spread and from the 1870’s until the turn of the century the industry enjoyed a boom. As a result of the growing reputation of the product some of the leading manufacturers made an aborted attempt to protect the name against imitations.

The First World War killed off the export trade and marked the beginning of the decline of the industry. However, within the last 20 years there has been a revival with the industry again expanding to meet a growing demand for this versatile food stuff. Melton Mowbray pork pies made in the designated area are now on sale in many of the large supermarkets and are also being exported abroad again.