BUN IN A WILL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20252, 11 May 1929, Page 3 (Supplement)

BUN IN A WILL.

SWEET AT AGE OF 130. What is claimed to be the oldest hotcross bun in existence —its age is 130 years—is in the possession of Miss Louisa McLean, of Albert Road, Dalston, says a London paper. Carefully unwrapping the treasure from a check cloth in which it had reposed since it was made, Miss McLean, who is 69, and has lived in the same house for 63 years, said recently: "It was made by my father's first wife's mother on Good Friday, 1799, and when my father died it was"left to me to keep as a heirloom. "Just look at it," she said. It lpoks as tempting as any bun of to-day„ but it is as hard as a brick. It will never go mouldy, because it was made on a Good Friday, and legend says that a bun made on Good Friday will not go mouldy. It smells now as sweet as a new cake."

When Miss McLean's attention was drawn to the fact that there were no currants in the bun, she exclaimed: " Certainly not. When this was made currants were considered a very great luxury. " I shall keep it as long as I live," Miss McLean added, " and shall leave it in my will to my nearest living relative, a cousin who is over 60, and who lives at Chatham."

Looking suspiciously around,- Miss McLean returned the treasure to its wrapping and put it among other family relics in a wardrobe drawer, which she carefully locked.