Comments on: St. Martin’s Jam Factory, Ely

By: Dr R E Stebbings

Dr R E Stebbings — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 11:47:44 +0000

Earlier this month I was examining a derelict building in mid-lincolnshire and found an old (green moulded glass) 2lb jam jar. It had a label saying simply ‘Ely’ with ‘BLACKBERRY’ beneath. The Blackbury had a properly printed label stuck over it saying ‘STRAWBERRY’. The address at the bottom of the label simply says ‘Ely Cambridgeshire’. It also says in small print above the address ‘ Fruit Garden’s & Wob….’ Cannot read the remaining letters. On the label which is white and blue (silhouette of the cathedral – trade mark) are 8 gold certificates of memberships and awards. These are a little difficult to read but one is dated 1894.
The glass jar is of poor glass with lots of air bubbles has some letters and numbers, most indistinct but includes: C, B, 2, Ld, and K

By: Janet Macleod

Janet Macleod — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 22:05:44 +0000

I am currently researching my grandfather George Boyd and have received information that he was managing director of St Martin’s Jams but in the Newcastle area. Can anyone shed any light as to whether there was another factory in the Newcastle / Boston area. He worked with them in the 1940s up until his early death in 1955.
Any help would be most gratefully received !

By: Richard Jeffery

Richard Jeffery — Sun, 28 Nov 2010 19:08:57 +0000

I have 9 different St. Martin’s varsity marmalade pots bearing the arms of Oxford colleges. I am always looking for more. In the past I have also come accross some bearing Cambridge college crests

By: Mark Pettersson

Mark Pettersson — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 12:06:41 +0000

By any chance do you have any employment records for that time?
I am looking for any references to a “Edith Audrey Clinton” or a “Edith Audrey Tennison” circa 1948 onwards I believe in the Grimsby factory.

Cheers

Mark

By: Phil from Fairford

Phil from Fairford — Sun, 02 May 2010 21:07:57 +0000

I recently bought a st martins marmalade pot with newham college on the lid, plus I have trinity college lid only.I would like to know how many were in the series and i presume they were all of cambridge centres of learning, and a rough idea of when they were made.

By: Karl Bedingfield

Karl Bedingfield — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 05:21:58 +0000

The marmalade is long gone I’m afraid to say.

By: Peter Dench

Peter Dench — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 19:38:25 +0000

Delightful images but excuse my ignorance, can the marmalade still be purchased?

By: Dr Bruce Osborne

Dr Bruce Osborne — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 00:17:13 +0000

You may be interested – when collecting archive material for the web site we acquired a 9.5mm family holiday film, probably taken in the 1930s that includes a scene taken against a background of a St Martin Chunky Marmalade advertisement. Out of interest I searched it on google and came across your details. BEO

By: Neil Paffard

Neil Paffard — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 15:11:30 +0000

I believe that St Martin (or was it Oxo?)
took over Foster Clark Ltd in Maidstone about 1963. I am interested in Foster Clark history and any information about this era would be welcomed.
Neil Paffard

By: Karl Bedingfield

Karl Bedingfield — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 18:31:38 +0000

In the past.

By: Max Ofenböck

Max Ofenböck — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 12:23:12 +0000

Hello,

what exactly means “St. Martin’s Jam factory for sale.”
Actually or was that in the past?
Thank you,

kind regards
Max Ofenböck

By: Mr D J Schofield

Mr D J Schofield — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 22:11:24 +0000

I came across your web site whilst looking for any information about a St MARTINS MARMALADE ceramic pot that I have just bought in Salisbury.

If any one can help with dating it or with any other information that would be great.

Here are some details:

White ceramic base being about 5.5″diameter x 2.5″ deep.Embossed St MARTINS MARMALADE.
It has a lid with a wonderful picture of WINDSOR CASTLE with cattle in the for ground.

Regards,
David of Portsmouth.

By: Amanda Pyatt

Amanda Pyatt — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 15:08:33 +0000

I was pleased to find this article on line as I have a porcelain pot, the lid of which depicts the front court of Trinity College Cambridge. On the base St. Martins Marmalade is embossed in large letters. I wondered where it was from. It is a local item!

By: Brian Lythell

Brian Lythell — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 18:07:40 +0000

My father (Charles W Lythell) worked closely with Arthur Strevens both during the days of St Martins at Ely and then subsequently at TG Tickler in Grimsby. He is seen sitting to the left of Arthur Strevens in the group photograph above. I still have a few artifacts from the Ely days and if anyone wishes to make contact I will do my best to provide any additional information, as accurately as possible.
Brian Lythell

By: Sylvia Bell

Sylvia Bell — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 10:50:27 +0000

I was so excited to see all this information about Martin’s Jam Factory.

I used to live across the road from it, from about 1949 to 1957, in what was my Grandma’s cottage.

I can still remember the smell from the oranges as they were processed and I also remember the wasps which used to swarm around us all. They packed a sting too.

On hot days, the girls in the canteen, which was at the top of the factory, used to throw down ice creams to my brother and me. The blocks were wrapped in paper and used to hit the ground with a thud. But we always managed to get enough off the paper to eat.

Grandma’s cottage is still there in Bray’s Lane. Number 3. We drive past it every time we visit the UK. Would there be any chance of me getting copies of the photos?

By: valerie jones

valerie jones — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 19:15:49 +0000

I have just taken up the hobby of metal detecting. My first dig, yesterday, was very exciting as you can imagine – in my back garden. Guess what I found – a lid of a St. Martin Chunky Marmalade jar. I shall treasure it, although it is a bit worse for wear. It must be 50 years old.