Read about the 'Forgotten milkmaids and cows of St James’s and Green Park', an illustrated extract from '‘Memoirs of a Metro Girl" blog, about cow-keeping in Central London parks, published in 2023
Read about the supply of Goat's Milk for London, in the 1860's onwards, from an article in St. James's Gazette, 1882
The Milk Supply of a London Borough (Finsbury) was published in 1903 by Dr George Newman, the Finsbury Medical Officer of Health. It traced the supply of milk from over a thousand farms, through 14 'wholesalers', also direct supply from around 50 rounds that obtained supplies from other farms, and around a dozen shops that obtained their milk from local town cowsheds. He found many issues with lack of hygiene, adulteration with water and preservatives (formalin), TB and (lack of) temperature control.
VIDEOS
“Don't be a milk snatcher! A stern admonishment not to keep rationed milk from children is the message of this short 1941 War Rationing of Milk information film, in which young Jimmy cheekily peels back the foil from the bottle and sticks his tongue out in anticipation.” (1 minute)
Charming and very dated 1950's Wartime Milk Collection film from the Huntley Film Archives about creamery rationalisation during the Second World War. "Before the war the bulk of the milk produced was carted to roughly a hundred different creameries scattered throughout the country, for butter or cream manufacture. In 1942 there was a great need for increased supplies of liquid milk so the government took over the job of collecting the milk from the farmers. Many of the smaller creameries were closed down and several central depots were opened by the Ministry of Agriculture. Every farmers milk isn't everybody's cup of tea, but it's the inspectors job to see that it is, and they are very particular. Among other things the milk is examined for cleanliness and afterwards a sample is taken to be tested for fat content. If for any reason the milk doesn't come up to the standard set for liquid milk - well it's not thrown away, no its processed or else salvaged or possibly sent back to the farm to be used for feeding the young livestock. Nothing is wasted."