Hello there. Glad you could drop by and behold my afternoonified new premises for yourself. Splendid aren’t they? Let me give you a tour of the facilities and then you can partake of some of my first rate confectionary for yourself.
Whilst I show you the sights, let me give you a little bit of my history, by way of explanation of how I came to be a world famous maker and purveyor of such uncommonly good viands. It all began in Sheffield, a fine city and place of my birth, back in 1837 when I was little more than a stripling. Speaking frankly life hadn’t exactly been all beer and skittles up to that point, having found myself somewhat poked-up at my lack of pecuniary advancement in comparison to my peers.
The beginning of my ascendency
I was therefore doubly determined to triumph and to make the name of Charles Butler famous throughout the world when I began my career at a local boiled sweet maker. There I was, young, energetic and as keen as mustard when I commenced my apprenticeship. As I boiled and handcrafted innumerable sweets over the years, I laid my plans. Eleven years later, because it takes at least that long to acquire the requisite skills, in 1848 I foundered ‘Charles Butler master confectioner and mint rock manufacturer’ My rise to fame had begun.
By the by, in case you are wondering how I have reached such a dizzying age whilst still being so vigorous and youthful, I put it down to long hikes in my beloved Peak District, hard work, cold baths, and a half hogshead of best bitter daily which I find to be a most efficacious restorative. You must try it some time. Anyway, where was I? Oh yes I was telling you the tale of my rise to prominence.
My bailiwick broadens
Well I began by making and selling a mint rock unequalled by any of my rivals and esteemed by all who tasted it. Using the finest of ingredients and leaving no stone unturned in my pursuit of perfection, my rock and I were soon lauded throughout the world.
From that moment on my daddles were never still, and my fine boiled sweets went from strength to strength. Barley sugars adequate to rejuvenate the weariest hiker soon proved popular, as did my astonishingly agreeable Chocolate Limes. Fruit drops filled with toothsome jam and Fruit Rock handmade by some of the world’s most proficient sugar boilers followed, and finally my magnificent and distinct Liquorice and Blackcurrants. As I wrote in 1902
‘’During all the 54 years Charles Butler’s sweets have been manufactured, not an ounce of anything in the way of adulteration has been used, but only ingredients of the purest and best quality that money could purchase, and this has achieved a success which is World wide.”
The mission continues
And I have never wavered from my thoroughgoing adherence to these high ideals. My sweets are still handmade in Sheffield under my abiding and ever vigilant eye, and they continue to be relished by young and old alike.
So, now you have knowledge of how it all began and can comprehend why the name Charles Butler is synonymous with world beating quality sweetmeats, please come this way and I shall arrange for you to try some for yourself
