How it all began....
William Santus was born in Wigan, in the North of England,
in 1873 and was the son of a coal miner. He married Ellen Seddon
in 1898 and became a stall holder, in Wigan Market Hall, selling
fruit and vegetables. Ellen made sweets in her kitchen, and perfected
the mint ball, which she sold on her husband's fruit stall. It
was from these humble beginnings that Uncle Joe's Mint Balls
were born and the stall is still preserved in the Wigan Pier
Heritage Centre. Demand grew, especially with local miners, as
they gave relief from coal dust, and were used as a substitute
for tobacco during the long hours spent underground.
In 1919 the present factory was commissioned, and two years later
was completed. Here, the famous mint balls are still produced,
in the same way, over open gas fires, to a recipe still mixed
in secret every day, and known only to two people. At a time
when sweets are mass produced, and contain artificial additives,
it is refreshing to find a traditional product, that is "pure
and good", reminding us of how sweets used to taste.
Mrs. Santus could not have envisaged, when she boiled toffee
in her back kitchen, how popular Uncle Joe's Mint Balls were
to become.
More than just a sweet.....
Over the years Uncle Joe's Mint Balls have become part of
Lancashire folk-lore. The very name brings a smile,
and conjures up all sorts of nostalgic memories, especially for
people brought up with them - recollections of frosty
mornings travelling to work, or winter afternoons watching the
local football team - (Brrr! so unthinkable, without the warming
taste of an "Uncle Joe's" to keep out the chill - and
help cheer the home team on.) to just simple enjoyment
of a lovely old fashioned sweet.
Their appeal covers all generations and all classes, long
before they were individually wrapped, generations of Wigan school
children have enjoyed mint balls - taken out of pockets
- dusted off - and popped into mouths with great relish,- and
satisfaction.
But now people everywhere are discovering their delights,
and requests for information on local outlets, and details of
the Postal Service, are received by the factory every week.
Uncle Joe's! - just boiled sweets? - we don't
think so, - no!- they're so much more than that.
PRINTABLE
ORDER FORM
Designed by Jim Farrell
(with a little help from)
|
|