In today’s episode, I am talking with author and food historian Pen Vogler about her book Stuffed: A History of Good Food and Hard Times in Britain which was published toward the end of last year 2023.

We discuss how precarious our food supply was and is, the Enclosure Acts and their effect upon our relationship with food, allotments, havercakes, adulteration and malnutrition, school dinners and Hannah Woolley’s pumpkin pie, amongst many other things.

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Pen’s book Stuffed: A History of Good Food and Hard Times in Britain is out now.

Oxford Literary Festival

Hexham Book Festival

Hay Festival

Find Pen on social media: Twitter & Instagram @PenVogler

Books and other things mentioned in today’s episode:

Scoff: A History of Food and Class in Britain by Pen Vogler

My interpretation of Hannah Woolley/W.M.’s pumpkin pie recipe

Ultra-Processed People by Chris van Tulleken

Previous podcast episodes pertinent to today’s episode:

The School Meals Service with Heather Ellis

English Food, a People's History with Diane Purkiss

A History of Herbalism with Emma Kay

Neil’s blogs:

‘British Food: a History’

‘Neil Cooks Grigson’

Neil’s books:

Before Mrs Beeton: Elizabeth Raffald, England’s Most Influential Housekeeper

A Dark History of Sugar

Both are published by Pen & Sword and available from all good bookshops.

Don’t forget, there will be postbag episodes in the future, so if you have any questions or queries about today’s episode, or indeed any episode, or have a question about the history of British food please email Neil at [email protected], or on twitter and BlueSky@neilbuttery, or Instagram and Threads dr_neil_buttery. His DMs are open.

You can also join the British Food: a History Facebook discussion page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/britishfoodhistory

Mentioned in this episode:

Fruit Pig are currently sponsoring The British Food History Podcast

Visit fruitpig.co.uk for more details of their products and journey, and to access their shop. Grant and Matthew are very kindly giving listeners to the BFHP a unique special offer: 10% off your order until the end of October 2025 – use the offer code Foodhis in the checkout. Time to fill your boots.