A lost Liverpool bakery that employed generations in the city for over 70 years made treats that were "a staple of our childhood."
The Liverpool ECHO recently took a look back at the Sayers brand on Merseyside, more specifically its purpose-built bakery in Norris Green. Back in 1912, Fred and Lylian Sayer started selling baked products from a basement kitchen on Prescot Road, Old Swan, before production moved to County Road, Walton in 1922 and then a larger bakery in Aintree Road, Bootle in 1925.
By the early 1930s, another expansion saw Sayers moved to Lorenzo Drive, Norris Green. A key production facility, the site supplied shops throughout Merseyside and the North West and many will remember Devon cream sold that came in a tub, as well as the smell of the products wafting down the road.
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Over the next seven decades, Sayers in Norris Green employed generations and different departments would see cakes decorated, bread travel to ovens, mince pies made and more. Recently shared photos by Howard H Hughes also show what the Sayers site looked like in its final years.
On Facebook, a number of ECHO readers shared their memories of working for Sayers or of the products they loved growing up - some which are now a thing of the past - and here are just some of your comments. Many shared their memories specifically of the Lorenzo Drive site.
Joanna Perry said: "My mum and dad both worked and met at Sayers Lorenzo Drive in the early 60s, my dad was a baker and my mum worked in accounts." Ron Forsyth commented: "I used to deliver jam in bulk from Nelsons jam factory in long lane to them for their products."
Eve Sutton posted: "My Auntie Madge Davis worked 6-10 evenings in the Lorenzo Drive factory. She loved that place and we loved the cakes. She’s sadly no longer with us."
Lynne O'Brien said: "They used to sell whipped cream in a tub, and it was called super whip or something like it. It was absolutely amazing stuff. Never found anything remotely close to it."
Ann Evans commented: "I actually worked there Lorenzo drive early start but happy days, Devon delights the best and great work mates." Kath Melville said: "Used to go to Lorenzo Drive with my job. Lovely, them custard slices puff pastry and white icing on the top - yum."
Maeve Middleton said: "I went on a school trip to Sayers factory when I was about 10. We watched the cakes being mass-produced and were escorted into the works canteen where a sumptuous tea was laid out... two cakes each and tea or orange squash. Never to be forgotten."
Jeannette Mac posted: "Worked in the factory early 70s, my jobs were Devon whip and putting jam in the doughnuts, as well as the jellies. It was a brilliant job, such a shame it closed, lovely firm to work for." Anna Alkunshalie wrote: "My first weekend job when I was 16. Great place to work with great people."
Dorothy Wood commented: "I worked at Sayers in Lorenzo Drive decorating cakes in 1957. I had just qualified as a teacher and needed to work before I started my first teaching job at Florence Melly Junior School in September 1957. The hygiene rules at Lorenzo Drive were excellent. We had a breakfast break at 7.00 and there was a lady who checked that hands were washed and no hair had wriggled out of the hats we wore. Any cakes which didn’t appear perfect were sold to the staff with a good discount."
Kerry Kez wrote: "My nan used to work here - 'tray wash Tessie'. Used to meet her there sometimes on our way home from school and get some cakes. The smell from the factory was just gorgeous." Janet Pennington posted: "My Great Uncle George was the head cake decorator and royal iced all the wedding cake orders."
And Dave Hale said: "Did 17 years there. So many great people. It was the best job I ever had. Big shout out to all the people I remember and who remember me." Kathy Bretherton commented: "My mum worked there, one of my favourite childhood memories is her coming home from work and the way she smelt of cakes."
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Other readers also shared their memories of the brand across Merseyside and some of their favourite treats. Samantha OToole said: "The best thing about Sayers was the toast!"
Catherine Jane wrote: "I remember going to town in Southport on a Saturday and a stop off at Sayers for a cheese and onion pasty was a highlight circa 1986 - twas delicious! I think it was 37p." Jennifer Abraham Ensall posted: "I worked for Sayers in Park Road, Dingle. I enjoyed every minute and made some great friends."
Margaret Donnelly said: "Three tier wedding cakes, they were gorgeous, the centre piece of the top wedding table so gorgeous, you just knew it was from Sayers." Joan Armstrong posted: "I used to get a box on a Saturday from St Helens for my mum. A pineapple tart, a vanilla slice, a cream butterfly puff an éclair and an apple tart. Couldn't wait to get the bus home and have pick of the box after my tea. Used to take me ages choosing cos I wanted 'em all."
Terri Portis Williams wrote: "Devon whip & their salmon paste loved it." Sue Fairbairn-Smith said: "Growing up in the 70s, a Princess Sandwich with the pink icing and a mandarin delice with Devon Whip was the best thing ever. How I still miss Devon Whip."
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Marie Parry wrote: "Best cakes and pasties sausage roll etc. at Sayers. Great family firm to work for. Worked there for years. And still meet each year at pensioners party. Pity such family business aren’t still around."
Angie Lynch commented: "Loved Sayers cakes! The mandarin and fresh cream Swiss Roll was amazing!" Lynn Garrett said: "A staple of my childhood."
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Susan Dutton Moseley said: "Loved the Devon whip when they sold it in a pink tub." Tony Craig commented: "I worked in Sayers for 32 years it was a great place to work with some lovely people."
Toni Omar commented: "My childhood. A hot sausage roll & an egg custard nearly every dinner time when I was kid. No-one could make sausage rolls like them." Emma Jelves said: "Cheese on doorstop toast yummy, a treat on a Sat morning shopping with my mum."
Carol McWatt posted: "Loved the iced pineapple tart. My nan would send me to Sayers on Poulton Road Wallasey for cake and Bach/naps ... .delicious. I was devastated when they stopped making the iced pineapple tart ..."
Kim Glanister Coetzer wrote: "In the 1970s I loved going to Sayers on Aigburth Road to get a box of cakes for my mum. There'd be a nice mix strawberry tart, custard slice etc. I remember how they’d tie the box with a ribbon of some kind. Good old days!"
And Cathie Le Brocq said: "Loved their birthday cakes and custard tarts I moved from Liverpool to Jersey in 1986 and had Sayers celebration cakes brought over for my kids christenings and holy communions."
Did you work at Sayers in Norris Green? Let us know in the comments section.
Sayers remained a family run business until 1977 when it was sold to United Biscuits and later in 1990 was bought by Warburtons. Six years later, in 1996, Warburtons sold its bakers stores to Lyndale Foods and the following year the family was expanded further when the Annes Shops chain of shops were bought from Roberts Bakery in 1997.
But by the noughties, Sayers' life in Norris Green came to an end. The Liverpool ECHO previously reported how bosses axed 183 jobs at Lorenzo Drive in 2006, blaming rising costs.
In 2008, the Lorenzo Drive site was its last bakery in the city, closing its doors for good in June that same year. A number of images, unearthed from our archives, show workers outside Sayers Norris Green factory after it went into liquidation, and a lock being put on the entrance gate after closure, bringing an end to Sayers’ 95 year relationship with Liverpool.
Photos taken by Howard H Hughes also show the last months of the site. In 2007, you can see what the bakers looked like after closure, with its yellow and orange Sayers logo still standing out on the white and brick building.
In October 2008, the site was badly damaged by a suspected arson attack, before the site was later demolished and became home to an Aldi store, which still operates today. According to its website, today Sayers The Bakers is the biggest independent retail baker in the North West with over 150 shops throughout the region.
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