Results matching “Bird”

Reverend Charles Smith Bird - History

Vicar of Gainsborough in 1847, his parish included Morton and East Stockwith.

1795-1862 Chancellor of Lincoln Cathedral.

Reverend Charles Smith Bird - Test Area

Vicar of Gainsborough in 1847, his parish included Morton and East Stockwith.

1795-1862 Chancellor of Lincoln Cathedral.

Alfred Bird snr (Bird's Custard) - History

Alfred Bird senior, a Digbeth chemist, in 1837 devised a way of making custard without using eggs as his wife was allergic to them and, some years later in 1902, his son Sir Alfred Bird established the factory at Devonshire Works to produce the now famous Bird's custard.


Alfred Bird was born in Digbeth, Birmingham, in 1811. His father taught Astronomy at Eton College.

Alfred had established himself as a pharmacist by 1837, opening an experimental chemist's shop in Bull St. He married Elizabeth Ragg shortly thereafter. Elizabeth was unable to eat food containing either eggs or yeast, which led to Alfred's discoveries of both egg-free (cornflower-based) custard and baking powder.

The cornflower-based custard product was originally intended for home use only, and it was not until it was inadvertently served to dinner guests that the wider appeal of the custard was realised. Following favorable feedback from his guests, Alfred started the company Alfred Bird and Sons Ltd of Birmingham; later opening the factory on Gibb St (now the Custard Factory Arts Centre).

In 1843 Alfred Bird invented Baking Powder in order to make bread without yeast, another product to which his wife was allergic. A year later in 1844 Bird's Custard Powder was being marketed nationally. In promoting the baking powder, Bird's became the first company to use free calendars as an advertising platform.

This new invention of baking powder was used by the army in the Crimean War (1853-1856) so that the British troops could be given fresh palatable bread.

It was Alfred Bird's son who further developed the company. He introduced many new products including Blancmange Powder in the early 1870's and Jelly Crystal Powder in 1895. Further increases in production meant the construction of the new factory in Digbeth High Street. In 1876 Alfred Bird registered Bird's Custard Powder under the 'Ship & Globe' Trade Mark.

Alfred was a Fellow of the Chemical Society and, after his death on December 2, 1878, an obituary was published in the Journal of the Chemical Society. It described at length Bird's interest and competence in chemistry, physics and meteorology, but did not mention a word about his invention of custard powder and baking powder. Presumably the notable fellows of the Chemical Society thought that such debased money-making activities did not belong in a learned journal.

In 1890 Alfred Bird Jnr made his first Egg Substitute, a natural companion to the Custard Powder and Baking Powder.

During the First World War, from 1914, Bird's Custard was supplied to His Majesty's forces.

The celebrated 'Three Birds' trademark was born in 1929. It was adopted after the huge success of an advertising campaign, making Bird's products one of the first to use artistic advertisements.

Wartime restrictions and rationing during the Second World War (1939-1950?) meant that production of Bird's products was limited. Custard continued to be made, along with blancmange and raising agents. Shortly after the War, in 1947, General Foods Corporation purchased Alfred Bird & Sons Ltd.

Alfred Jnr was a colourful character and committed cyclist. He was one of the first to use Charles Dunlop's new pneumatic tyres, and the record time for the journey by tricycle from Land's End to John O'Groats is still in the name of Alfred Bird Jnr.


Alfred Bird senior, a Digbeth chemist, in 1837 devised a way of making custard without using eggs as his wife was allergic to them and, some years later in 1902, his son Sir Alfred Bird established the factory at Devonshire Works to produce the now famous Bird's custard.


Alfred Bird was born in Digbeth, Birmingham, in 1811. His father taught Astronomy at Eton College.

Alfred had established himself as a pharmacist by 1837, opening an experimental chemist's shop in Bull St. He married Elizabeth Ragg shortly thereafter. Elizabeth was unable to eat food containing either eggs or yeast, which led to Alfred's discoveries of both egg-free (cornflower-based) custard and baking powder.

The cornflower-based custard product was originally intended for home use only, and it was not until it was inadvertently served to dinner guests that the wider appeal of the custard was realised. Following favorable feedback from his guests, Alfred started the company Alfred Bird and Sons Ltd of Birmingham; later opening the factory on Gibb St (now the Custard Factory Arts Centre).

In 1843 Alfred Bird invented Baking Powder in order to make bread without yeast, another product to which his wife was allergic. A year later in 1844 Bird's Custard Powder was being marketed nationally. In promoting the baking powder, Bird's became the first company to use free calendars as an advertising platform.

This new invention of baking powder was used by the army in the Crimean War (1853-1856) so that the British troops could be given fresh palatable bread.

It was Alfred Bird's son who further developed the company. He introduced many new products including Blancmange Powder in the early 1870's and Jelly Crystal Powder in 1895. Further increases in production meant the construction of the new factory in Digbeth High Street. In 1876 Alfred Bird registered Bird's Custard Powder under the 'Ship & Globe' Trade Mark.

Alfred was a Fellow of the Chemical Society and, after his death on December 2, 1878, an obituary was published in the Journal of the Chemical Society. It described at length Bird's interest and competence in chemistry, physics and meteorology, but did not mention a word about his invention of custard powder and baking powder. Presumably the notable fellows of the Chemical Society thought that such debased money-making activities did not belong in a learned journal.

In 1890 Alfred Bird Jnr made his first Egg Substitute, a natural companion to the Custard Powder and Baking Powder.

During the First World War, from 1914, Bird's Custard was supplied to His Majesty's forces.

The celebrated 'Three Birds' trademark was born in 1929. It was adopted after the huge success of an advertising campaign, making Bird's products one of the first to use artistic advertisements.

Wartime restrictions and rationing during the Second World War (1939-1950?) meant that production of Bird's products was limited. Custard continued to be made, along with blancmange and raising agents. Shortly after the War, in 1947, General Foods Corporation purchased Alfred Bird & Sons Ltd.

Alfred Jnr was a colourful character and committed cyclist. He was one of the first to use Charles Dunlop's new pneumatic tyres, and the record time for the journey by tricycle from Land's End to John O'Groats is still in the name of Alfred Bird Jnr.


Tree update - History

The tree has been updated thanks to information provided by a number of researchers. Let me know if you spot anything that doesn't look quite right.

Tree update - Test Area

The tree has been updated thanks to information provided by a number of researchers. Let me know if you spot anything that doesn't look quite right.

Other researchers - Bird - History

There are a number of pieces of information, contact details and miscellaneous resources which I come across whilst researching my own family tree. These are not necessarily related, but they may prove useful for your research.

If you'd like to contribute to this list, please drop me a line.

Sassytazzy's Genealogy Research
Various records for Bird and Byrd families - US.

Metis Family of James Curtis Bird
James Curtis Bird - UK, CA and US.

Kevin Duerinck Bird - Irish Genealogy
Irish and US information.

OFFORD / GARNHAM cook webb morley bird sefton Family Tree
UK information.

BIRD, BURD, and BYRD Genealogy
A one-name study of Bird families from around the world.

Other researchers - Bird - Test Area

There are a number of pieces of information, contact details and miscellaneous resources which I come across whilst researching my own family tree. These are not necessarily related, but they may prove useful for your research.

If you'd like to contribute to this list, please drop me a line.

Sassytazzy's Genealogy Research
Various records for Bird and Byrd families - US.

Metis Family of James Curtis Bird
James Curtis Bird - UK, CA and US.

Kevin Duerinck Bird - Irish Genealogy
Irish and US information.

OFFORD / GARNHAM cook webb morley bird sefton Family Tree
UK information.

BIRD, BURD, and BYRD Genealogy
A one-name study of Bird families from around the world.

Updates - History

Updates to the tree are being batched, with information from a number of researchers helping to flesh out the Bird, Chetwynd, Crew, Fraser, Martin, and Shovelton lines.

In the meantime, a brief bio of William Bird has been added, together with several pages in the resources section; including a reference table for Scots weights, measures and money, a list of several mailing lists that may be useful when researching the families on this site, and a list of the primary researchers for this site.

Updates - Test Area

Updates to the tree are being batched, with information from a number of researchers helping to flesh out the Bird, Chetwynd, Crew, Fraser, Martin, and Shovelton lines.

In the meantime, a brief bio of William Bird has been added, together with several pages in the resources section; including a reference table for Scots weights, measures and money, a list of several mailing lists that may be useful when researching the families on this site, and a list of the primary researchers for this site.

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