Alfred Bird
Encyclopedia
Alfred Bird was a British food manufacturer and chemist. He was born in Nympsfield
, Gloucestershire, England in 1811 was the inventor of a series of food products mostly now taken for granted. His son Alfred Frederick Bird
continued to develop the business after his father's death.
Alfred Bird registered as a pharmacist in Birmingham
in 1842, having served an apprenticeship to Phillip Harris
of that city. He was a qualified chemist
and druggist and went on to open an experimental chemist's shop in Bull Street.
Alfred Bird's first major invention was egg free custard
(1837) . Alfred Bird used cornflour instead of egg to create a custard mix. It was originally intended only for his wife Elizabeth who had both egg and yeast allergies. Only when the custard was accidentally fed to guests did Alfred Bird realise that his invention had a wider use. Soon afterwards Alfred Bird founded 'Alfred Bird and Sons Ltd', which would go on to become the famous Bird's Custard
company and brand.
Bird was not content to revolutionise custard but went on to invent baking powder
so he could make yeast-free bread for his wife.
Alfred Bird died on 15 December 1878 and is buried at Key Hill Cemetery
in Birmingham. Famously his obituary in the journal of the Chemical Society
(of which he was a fellow) discussed at length his skills and research but did not mention his other activity – the by then famous Bird's Custard
.
His son, Alfred Frederick Bird
, continued the work of his father. Bird junior went on to invent egg substitute powder in 1890, blancmange
powder and jelly powder.
"The Custard Factory" in Digbeth, Birmingham, is now a centre providing space to artists.
Nympsfield
Nympsfield is a village and civil parish in the English county of Gloucestershire. It is located around six miles south-west of the town of Stroud. As well as Nympsfield village, the parish also contains the hamlet of Cockadilly....
, Gloucestershire, England in 1811 was the inventor of a series of food products mostly now taken for granted. His son Alfred Frederick Bird
Sir Alfred Bird, 1st Baronet
Sir Alfred Frederick Bird, 1st Baronet was a British chemist, food manufacturer and Conservative Party politician...
continued to develop the business after his father's death.
Alfred Bird registered as a pharmacist in Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
in 1842, having served an apprenticeship to Phillip Harris
Philip Harris Ltd.
Philip Harris Ltd was a British laboratory supply company with a long history that has now been subsumed into a succession of larger, more anonymous corporations...
of that city. He was a qualified chemist
Chemist
A chemist is a scientist trained in the study of chemistry. Chemists study the composition of matter and its properties such as density and acidity. Chemists carefully describe the properties they study in terms of quantities, with detail on the level of molecules and their component atoms...
and druggist and went on to open an experimental chemist's shop in Bull Street.
Alfred Bird's first major invention was egg free custard
Custard
Custard is a variety of culinary preparations based on a cooked mixture of milk or cream and egg yolk. Depending on how much egg or thickener is used, custard may vary in consistency from a thin pouring sauce , to a thick pastry cream used to fill éclairs. The most common custards are used as...
(1837) . Alfred Bird used cornflour instead of egg to create a custard mix. It was originally intended only for his wife Elizabeth who had both egg and yeast allergies. Only when the custard was accidentally fed to guests did Alfred Bird realise that his invention had a wider use. Soon afterwards Alfred Bird founded 'Alfred Bird and Sons Ltd', which would go on to become the famous Bird's Custard
Bird's Custard
Bird's Custard is the original version of what is known generically as custard powder. It is a cornflour -based powder which thickens to form a custard-like sauce when mixed with milk and heated to a sufficient temperature...
company and brand.
Bird was not content to revolutionise custard but went on to invent baking powder
Baking powder
Baking powder is a dry chemical leavening agent used to increase the volume and lighten the texture of baked goods such as muffins, cakes, scones and American-style biscuits. Baking powder works by releasing carbon dioxide gas into a batter or dough through an acid-base reaction, causing bubbles in...
so he could make yeast-free bread for his wife.
Alfred Bird died on 15 December 1878 and is buried at Key Hill Cemetery
Key Hill Cemetery
Key Hill Cemetery, , originally called Birmingham General Cemetery, a Nonconformist cemetery, is the oldest cemetery in Birmingham, England. It opened on 23 May 1836. Located in Hockley, the city's Jewellery Quarter, it is one of two cemeteries there...
in Birmingham. Famously his obituary in the journal of the Chemical Society
Chemical Society
The Chemical Society was formed in 1841 as a result of increased interest in scientific matters....
(of which he was a fellow) discussed at length his skills and research but did not mention his other activity – the by then famous Bird's Custard
Bird's Custard
Bird's Custard is the original version of what is known generically as custard powder. It is a cornflour -based powder which thickens to form a custard-like sauce when mixed with milk and heated to a sufficient temperature...
.
His son, Alfred Frederick Bird
Sir Alfred Bird, 1st Baronet
Sir Alfred Frederick Bird, 1st Baronet was a British chemist, food manufacturer and Conservative Party politician...
, continued the work of his father. Bird junior went on to invent egg substitute powder in 1890, blancmange
Blancmange
Blancmange is a sweet dessert commonly made with milk or cream and sugar thickened with gelatin, cornstarch or Irish moss, and often flavored with almonds. It is usually set in a mould and served cold. Although traditionally white, blancmanges are frequently given a pink color as well...
powder and jelly powder.
"The Custard Factory" in Digbeth, Birmingham, is now a centre providing space to artists.