John's Blog
Concerning the phrase:
A Bakers dozen:
Whenever I have the chance to regale a story or two to our friends
about little known facts or figures (I like these) it gives me great pleasure to tell the story about the origin of the above phrase.
Some people think it comes from medieval times when bakers would give an extra loaf when selling a dozen to avoid being penalized for selling under weight bread. In fact the saying is much older than that dating to the reign of king Henry the 2nd (1154-1189).
The bakery trade was regulated by the worshipful company of bakers, the law, which caused the bakers to be so wary, was the assize of bread and ale. Bakers or brewers that gave short measure of bread or ale could be flogged fined or pilloried (put in stocks) (don’t fancy that). These days no such practice prevail, thank goodness.
I suppose, if we had to do this these days then I would give an extra one of something else by way of sampling a new line, maybe. Also it is worth remembering the assize law regulated weight not number. So in fact the bakers were adding something a little extra in case the weight was wrong.
The worshipful company of bakers still exists and there are reports that this practice went on within living memory
John Lewis
23/05/2011
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