Shippams are famous for their jars of paste, and most of us have probably tasted it in a sandwich at some time. However, only those who paid attention to the label will be aware that the firm was founded in Chicheser in the eighteenth century.The Shippams were prominent grocers and later butchers in the town. In 1892, they expanded by building a factory behind the butcher's shop to manufacture canned goods and potted meats.
The famous metal-lidded glass jar was launched in 1905. Now sterilised, the products had the long shelf life which remains central to their appeal. A later innovation was television advertising: they were among the first companies to use this new medium, in 1955 (see their 1955 'guide to opera' advert here).
Today, Shippams are no longer a family firm and their Chichester factory moved out of the town centre in 2002, but they still have a visible presence within the city walls. This clock in East Street features a fine wishbone; a 1954 company film declared that 'a feature of the factory which always appeals to visitors is the great pile of wishbones. There must be a quarter of a million of them, and twelve hundred new bones come in every day, so anyone who calls can take away a good luck token.'
17 comments:
The Shippams factory was moved, not closed, and a good job too as it made the entire east end of Chichester smell of fish. The clock itself was originally moved to the new site on an industrial estate, but was subsequently moved back by public demand. You can see the clock in its temporary position here http://www.foodmanufacture.co.uk/news/fullstory.php/aid/2404/Prince_among_ready_meals.html.
Thank you for the article link, I've corrected the post (and am now trying to forget the phrase 'protein-in-sauce products'!).
Like Marmite, I remember Shippams jars had spring clips round them that were so much fun to take off.
I really miss Shippams spreads. And I remember the old spring clips, too. :)
Great post, Caroline...I'm about to do a foody nostalgia post about Shippams! Bloater paste was always my favourite
Thank you - I look forward to reading your post.
Hi Caroline, I'm the great gran daughter of Mr Shippam, and would like to thank you for your informative Post. Its nice to hear peoples memories of our old family business.
Hello, thank you for commenting and I'm glad you like the post.
Hi,
My mum was Janet Shippam and I have never bought shippams paste because I always believed that my grandad was done out of his dues!
John
Hi
My great aunt was Bessie Shippham [nee; Moffitt]. Would be interesting to hear from other relatives as it is a part of my family tree I know little about. My visit to your site was prompted by finding a Shippham's jar at a dig on a Bronze Age barrow on the Isle of Bute in Scotland. It was previously dug in 1903 and then backfilled. I had hoped that it would prove part of the backfilland help date it as it is a very old style of jar. If the production did not start until 1905it is unfortunately two years too late!
Good luck with your various researches! You may have found a predecessor of the metal-lidded version Shippams started using in 1905, as they started making potted meats in the late nineteenth century. The Chichester District Museum may know more?
Hi all, I too have a relative in the Shipphams tree. My great great grandmother's sister Rebecca Bankhead married Walter John Shippham in 1902 in Kensington and they lived at Wyck Lodge, Sussex. I have some letters written by Rebecca, though she speeks mostly of the Bankhead family. She gives the children as Alexandra, who married Thomas Jay and Aileen who married Arthur Hollis and another born 1903 who I can't make out.
it's all facinating
Si Todd
I'm very sad that Princes have stopped producing the anchovy and bloater pastes. Does anyone have a family recipe they would like to share :-) I'd like to have a go at making the stuff myself I miss it so much!
Cheers,
Harry
I'm Walter Shiphams's great grand daughter. My dad used to often go to Whyke lodge, and he even worked in the factory a bit before it was sold to Prince's
Hi there,
Can anyone confirm that a member of the Shippam family was either a JP or Magistrate in Chichester during the 1960's? Thanks
Simon Wells
MY Aunt told me that my great great grandad John Hollingdale from petworth married a shippam girl and she was disowned when they got wed.he was a gypsy from
what i been told,quite a suprise.
can anyone help?
colin.tufnell@esterline.com
i meant it was a gumbrell who married a shippam girl .colin.tufnell@esterline.com
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