Making oatcakes (engraving of a painting by George Walker from ‘The Costumes of Yorkshire in 1814’)
Within this one image George Walker captured all the stages in making oatcakes, also known as haver-cakes, a West Riding staple. The mixture of oatmeal and water made in a pancheon was ladled onto a board covered with dried oatmeal. The woman tilted the board around so that the mixture made a circular shape. The oatcake was cooked on top of the backstone before being left to cool on a cloth over an upturned chair. Finally, the oatcakes were hung on ropes to harden and were then ready to eat. A favourite meal was to dip an oatcake in broth or gravy.
George Walker also depicted a recruiting sergeant for the 33rd Regiment of Foot known as the Haver-cake Lads. The regiment typically recruited men from the West Riding, hence the nickname. In the picture the sergeant waves a haver-cake aloft on his sword and also points at the image of the Duke of Wellington, colonel of the regiment, above the inn door. A fellow soldier drums up interest. No doubt drinks of beer helped in the recruitment process.
