Cambridge Industrial Archaeology Group’s Autumn season starts with a talk on Chivers and Sons of Histon and their innovative contributions to the European preserves industry.

At one time, no breakfast table was complete without a jar of Chivers marmalade. The Histon-based company was known for its quality products such as jams, marmalades and jellies made from fruit grown in the fields to the north of Cambridge.  The company’s role as an innovator in the field of food preservation is not so well known.  Back in the 1890s, Chivers was the first large-scale canner of fruits in Europe. They successfully undertook groundbreaking research into the vitamin C content of tinned goods and the control of thermophilic bacteria and other microbes. The company also helped pave the way for efficient cold storage of fruit and was involved in establishing Birds Eye Frosted Foods in1938 with Frosted Foods Ltd, an offshoot of the US company General Foods.

Eleanor Whitehead is a local historian with a special interest in the history of Histon and Chivers who as authored a book The Chivers Story about the history of the company.

 The talk will take place in the Pye Building at Cambridge Museum of Technology.  Entrance on the night is via the Museum’s Cheddars Lane gate.

 There will be free light refreshments courtesy of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMECHE)

Tickets

£5: adult | £3 concessions (with ID) | free to Museum members and volunteers.

Cash or card on door

Buy an e-ticket in advance and show e-receipt on the door:

Cambridge Industrial Archaeology Group is affiliated to the Association for Industrial Archaeology; visit our webpage or join our Facebook page for more information about joining, participating in events or following local industrial-archaeology trails!