To celebrate International Women’s Day on 8 March 2026 in this episode we’ll be hearing the story of Eliza James, a remarkable woman who rose from poverty on the streets of Birmingham to become one of the most successful and wealthiest market traders at Covent Garden in London, all from selling bunches of watercress. So renowned was this woman that on her death in 1927 she was mourned as the watercress queen. Joining me to explore Eliza’s life are food historian Dr Alessandra Pino, food writer and former Director of London Farmers Markets Cheryl Cohen and Tom Amery, Managing Director of The Watercress Company.

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Useful Links

Find out more and follow my guests:

Dr Alessandra Pino - website, Instagram and BlueSky. Don’t forget to check out our other podcast A is for Apple and Allie’s Fear Feasts.

Also check out the fantastic Cheryl Queen of Markets on Substack. You can also find Cheryl on Instagram.

Tom Amery is the Managing Director of The Watercress Company. You can find them on Instagram, YouTube and lots of delicious recipe ideas on their ‘foodie’ account @lovewatercress

The annual Arlesford Watercress Festival takes place on 17 May 2026. You can travel to the event on part of the original Watercress Line (charges apply).

Suggested Reading

The Poor Watercress Sellers of London by John Groom (1872)

London Labour and the London Poor - Henry Mayhew (1851)

The Market Place And The Market’s Place In London, c. 1660 -1840 - PhD thesis by Colin Stephen Smith (1999)

John Groom’s Flower (and watercress ) Girl Mission

If you want to read the full story of Sarah Cackett’s tragic life you can find it in Pluckley: The Making and Faking of a Ghost Story

Don’t forget you can follow me on Instagram or Bluesky @mrssbilton or find out more about my work on sambilton.com.

A huge thank you to Thomas Ntinas of The Delicious Legacy for doing the sound mixing on this season of the podcast.

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