A pastry feast was a pasty-based celebration which took place in Wigan and the surrounding areas. Jessica Lofthouse in Portrait of Lancashire (1973) explained that each pub would hire local women to bake large turnover-shaped pasties containing chicken, pork or rabbit. In each giant pasty would be a tiny pot doll, and whoever found this in their portion was expected to pay for a round of drinks.
It was hosted at an inn or public house over three consecutive evenings (typically Saturday, Sunday and Monday), and usually occurred in the autumn months as the nights were drawing in. The first known newspaper advertisement for a pastry feast was found in the Wigan Observer in October 1857, and mentioned a feast which was to be held at the Honeysuckle Inn, Poolstock the following weekend.
The trend quickly caught on in the local area - especially once landlords started to offer prizes. One particular type of competition that was extremely popular was ugliest and handsomest woman or couple.
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| Coloured etching by George Cruikshank, 1848. |
While the winner of 'handsomest' usually won a desirable prize such as a pint of gin or a gallon of ale, the ugliest couple traditionally won a 'booby prize', often a pound of black puddings, or sometimes of sausages. A handsomest couple competition at the Oddfellows' Arms at Ashton Under Lyne in 1864 resulted in no less than 150 competitors, reported to be from all parts of the country.
The winning couple were James Jones of Rose Hill Cottage and his sweetheart Margaret Turton of Soldier's Cottage, and they were awarded a quart of rum. Mr John Oldfield and his wife, from Ashton, beat about 15 other competitors at 'ugliest couple' for which they were awarded a gallon of ale.
Other publicans preferred less raucous forms of entertainment at their pastry feasts. John Foster, proprietor of the Star Inn on Blackrod Brow advertised in 1864 that "no black pudding exhibition or any other tomfoolery will be engaged." Instead, he arranged a sparrow sweepstake with a prize of a copper kettle.
Other entertainment included dancing and singing competitions, and musical entertainment such as hand bell ringing and glee singing. The Hare and Hounds Inn in Aspull held a quoiting match for a teapot and half a dozen china cups and saucers in September 1866. The New Inn at Goose Green had a splendid oak carved cuckoo clock up for raffle in April 1866, and a grand firework display in February 1868.
- Portrait of Lancashire by Jessica Lofthouse, 1973
- Wigan Observer (various articles dating from 1857 - 1917)