"Oh how I tried and tried to copy that recipe.
On my many trips back and forth from Toronto over the past 40-years the routine was always on my first day back to venture into the Burchalls pie shop for a warm (hot juicy) pie. Over the years they were as predictable as always, although I hazard a guess the pie maker changed over the years (no complaints though) or whether it was
my palette, the pies had differing levels of spice in them ... sometimes
hotter than others ... but who cares, they were great. To John Burchall you have done a good job mate, it was your dad that I remember most, tall happy almost a Victorian style butcher and you as a lad on your first day scrubbing the cutting block and cutting your thumbs (I was there) .. and what about the folks at the now forgotton Eversons cake shop across the road, I'll wager they probably ate the Birchalls pies in their own kitchen? My question is ... who will fill John Burchalls shoes? PS. John give us that recipe ... please (wink-wink-nudge-nudge) promise I won't tell a soul LOL!"
John Roberts, Toronto, Canada
"Thank you for the memories of Burchalls pork pies. I remember being sent to town when I was about 8 years old in 1945/6 to buy these pies. I loved the gravy that was poured on out of a big enamel jug. More often than not the gravy would end up on my clothes by the time I got home to Grange Park. I have lived in Cyprus for the past 13 years and even though Pork is so cheap here nobody makes pork pies. Good business opportunity for someone..."
Renee, Cyprus
"I have been in Australia ever since 1969 and the smell and taste of Burchall's hot juicy pork pies is never far from my mind and will be there for ever. My wife and I have tried many pork pies over here and they never come anywhere near those beautiful pies from Westfield Street. I'm sure that If I had known prior to leaving St Helens for Australia that the pain of not being able to get those pies would have been so bad I would never have emigrated to Australia. Two years ago I was over there on a trip and I couldn't get down to Burchall's quick enough. The first of many visits to that famous shop. Please there must be someone in St Helens who can send us desperate convicts a recipe for a good Pork Pie. Regards to everyone."
Bill Harper, Mooroolbark, Victoria, Australia
"After coming home from the Falklands in 1982 on HMS Invincible I was met by my family and Burchall's pies. You couldn't ask for anything better."
Ted Naylor
"Well here I am in Benidorm reading about the debate on pork pies which I started way back in November. When I e mailed Norman Thomas (Radio Merseyside) to say I had brought 16 pork pies from Burchalls. I also bring them from Pearsons in New Ferry, which are also what my hubby calls slurpers. It's a bit sad really that we sit here in the lovely sunshine yearning for pork pies from cold snowy UK. I suppose we can't have everything. Regards to all from us, the Benidorm Pork Pie Club."
Christine Collins
"We immigrated to Australia sixteen years ago, and very often tell people about your pies, my mouth is watering now thinking of them. We have been home twice and as soon as we can we are in town to Burchalls to get our pies. YUMMY! Keep up the good work."
M & T Howard
"I was born in St Helens. I now live at Bribie Island, Queensland, Australia. My Mam worked for Burchalls for many years - Elsie Pearson. She could tell you a tale or two, though she is 88 yrs old now and not in good health. When I took my husband home in 1984 Mam brought pies home everyday when we weren't out touring. My Aussie man said he had never tasted anything like them and has not had a pork pie in OZ that tastes anything near. We had to go on a diet when we got back to OZ. I took 3 of my kids home to St Helens 2004 and needless to say, they now believe our stories about Burchalls pork pies. And I miss the Faggots! Slobber, slobber."
Marie Scribbins nee Pearson
"I am now living in Australia and arrived back in England on Xmas Day. My sister, knowing that I didn't like turkey, had two Burchalls Pies ready for my xmas dinner. Best xmas dinner I ever tasted!"
Ron Woods
"I moved to
London from
St. Helens 20 years ago and still visit family in the area. I can honestly say that you just cannot beat food from the North. The things I miss the most are fish and chips from the chippy, (no-one down here has ever heard of a split, never mind fish bits!), black pudding, sausages, steak puddings and pies, especially from Burchall’s and Pimblett’s. My favourite lunch as a child was a piping hot Burchall’s pie on top of a portion of chips. It makes my mouth water just thinking about it now!
Whenever I travel up for a visit, I always buy lots to take home and stock up my freezer."
Nicole Watts
"Oh what memories I have of Burchalls Pork pies. My Nan ran an old fashioned grocery shop on the top corner of Peel St opposite the Vaults (Chessies) public house. It was demolished in the mid 1960's when the area was redeveloped.
As my mum worked full time at Pilkingtons if ever me or my brother were off school sick or during school holidays we went to the shop with my Nan and played there all day. Most mornings the Burchalls delivery men would turn up with warm, sometimes still steaming, juicy, wonderful smelling pork pies with nice crusty bits on the outside. If my brother and I were playing as far as the other side of the Civil Defence building (500 yards away) we could still smell them!!!! In fact I can smell them now.
In addition you could set your watch by the time taken for some of the regular customers to appear as soon as the delivery mens' van appeared. There was a wonderful old lady who I knew as Gertie who was there the fastest (5 minutes). She always arrived wonderfully groomed with perfect 1920's style waves in her hair and she always gave me a threepenny bit if I was there on a Friday as I was in charge of putting the grocery boxes up. Within the next half hour or so more customers would arrive, the kettle would go on the fire, tea made and the world put to rights.
Our biggest treat as kids was to enjoy a still warm Burchalls pork pie with baked beans for our lunch. The juice would dribble down your chin and as kids we would argue over who could lick the juice off from the furthest point on our faces. I remember well that if you didn't wash your hands after eating them and you went out to play, your hands got especially filthy as the jelly acted as a glue against the dirt.
Our other biggest treat was a Pimbletts Barm Joey filled with chunks of cheese and a half inch coating of butter. Oh what happy days!!! Are Pimbletts or Burchalls still going?? Do they still make these treats? Or has "progress" robbed the people of St Helens yet more of the joys of sampling quality local made products yet again? Fortunately I live now in the West Midlands. Our local butcher has only been going 150 years and is still working on the quality of his home made pork pies. Long may he continue to do so."
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