Sweet memories of Worcester confectionery works: who remembers Sigley's 'ghosts'?

I was contacted before Christmas by Brian Pingriff, whose father Jim Pingriff, worked at the Sigley’s Steam Confectionery Works during the 1930s and early 1940s. Brian’s grandfather John, also worked there years before.

Sigley’s was famous for its sweets and in particular, for a well-loved throat sweet, known as Mother Sigley’s Cough Drops, reported to be a recipe passed to Mr Sigley the factory owner from his own mother.

As well as making confectionery, John’s father drove a large van delivering sweets to the two city-based Sigley’s shops, one next door to the Star Hotel in Foregate Street, and the second in Friar Street, just round the corner from the factory. He also made deliveries to shops in Herefordshire travelling as far as the Welsh border.

Sigley’s Steam Confectionery Works in 1980 (with thanks to the Changing Face of Worcester)

Sigley’s Steam Confectionery Works in 1980 (with thanks to the Changing Face of Worcester)

One particular memory stands out for Brian – a visit to the factory in 1940, when he was just four years old.

“I remember seeing a long hot slab made of steel, supported with brickwork, which contained a coal fire,” he said. “A large amount of sweet mixture was being rolled and kneaded with the hot slab, keeping it pliable.

“The mixture was then fed into a machine and, what seemed like magic to me, the sweets came out of the other end already wrapped.

“There was also a machine for making lettered rock. The sweet mixture was physically pushed into it and the rock came out of the other end with the letters already in it.

“I happily left the factory carrying a large bag of sweets!”

As if a sweet factory weren’t a magical enough place for a small child, Brian went on to share another fascinating memory.

“When the workers left the factory in the evening the streetlights reflected on the glucose from the sweets making their clothing look white and the local residents called them ‘Sigley’s Ghosts’”.

Union Street and Carden Street in the late 1950s. In the distance can be seen the Freemason’s Arms and the curved end wall of Sigley’s factory. Today City Walls Road cuts across this scene

Union Street and Carden Street in the late 1950s

Sigley’s was one of several industrial buildings based in the Blockhouse area of the city, much of which was comprehensively redeveloped in the 1960s and 70s, with swathes of housing condemned, and the factories and public houses along with them.

Readers may remember many of these lost streets and buildings, which made way partly for City Walls Road. We’d love to hear your stories. Many thanks to Brian for sharing this fascinating insight into a once famous city enterprise.

Worcester Life Stories is a collaborative project bringing local people together through shared stories of the City of Worcester.

It is co-led by Dr Natasha Lord, Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust and Sheena Payne-Lunn, Worcester City Council and funded thanks to National Lottery players.

For further information or to share your stories, visit worcesterlifestories.org.uk, our Facebook page or Twitter @worlifestories.

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