Thick or thin, your choice.

This little willow pattern advertising plate, dating from around 1870, sits on our side-board and helps remind me that although I've spent almost all my life in Scotland I won first prize in the lottery of life by being born in Yorkshire.

The celebrated Yorkshire relish, be it thick or thin, was a sauce made in Leeds by Goodall, Backhouse and Company. They were exceedingly good at blowing their own trumpet claiming their sauce to be, quite simply, The Most Delicious, Cheapest and Best Sauce in the World. It was certainly popular given that in the 1880s they were selling 6 million bottles a year, at a cost of 6d, 1s or 2s.

Goodall, Backhouse were established in 1837, and produced a range of products, including not only the iconic Yorkshire Relish but also baking powder, mushroom ketchup, and ginger beer powder. You can read a full account of the history of Yorkshire Relish here,