Naughty baker
According to some sources, William Rich (a baker in Fleet Street) came up with the modern tiered wedding cake design in the 18th century by looking at the tiered spire of St Bride's church.
True or not, William Rich was buried in the St Bride's crypt when he died. When large parts of the crypt and grounds were excavated recently as part of contract work, William Rich's coffin was found with the coffinplate still readable.
I was at a conference last weekend, and the person who did the analysis said "And I wouldn't recommend getting a cake from him, because I'm pretty sure he had syphillis!"
Oh past indiscretions, how you humiliate people in their death ;).
[NB - I think you have to try pretty hard to get syphillis, so I wouldn't be too concerned about casual syphillis transmission]
True or not, William Rich was buried in the St Bride's crypt when he died. When large parts of the crypt and grounds were excavated recently as part of contract work, William Rich's coffin was found with the coffinplate still readable.
I was at a conference last weekend, and the person who did the analysis said "And I wouldn't recommend getting a cake from him, because I'm pretty sure he had syphillis!"
Oh past indiscretions, how you humiliate people in their death ;).
[NB - I think you have to try pretty hard to get syphillis, so I wouldn't be too concerned about casual syphillis transmission]