A Brief History of Baking in Hockley Heath
From a Victorian bakehouse to a modern artisan bakery, the story of bread-making in this Solihull village spans over 175 years.
Hockley Heath might be a small village on the edge of Solihull, but it has a baking heritage that rivals towns many times its size. For over 175 years, bread has been baked on the same site on School Road, making it one of the longest-running bakeries in the West Midlands.
The First Bakehouse
It all started in 1850, when Edwin Dyer built a bakehouse behind his home on School Lane. In those days, bread was baked in a wood-fired oven and sold to the local farming community. The lane eventually became known as Dyers Lane, a name that persists to this day.
Through Two World Wars
Through the early twentieth century, the bakery passed to Mr F. Allcott, who kept it running through the upheaval of the First World War and the rationing that followed. Bread was a staple, and the village bakery was a lifeline for the community.
The Wedge Era
The name Wedges arrived in 1943, when Jim Wedge, a baker since the age of twelve, took over the business. Jim brought new energy and recipes while respecting the traditions that made the bakery special. Under his stewardship, Wedges became a household name in the area.
"Jim Wedge was a baker since the age of twelve. He brought new energy and recipes while respecting the traditions that made the bakery special."
A Family Legacy
In the early 1970s, Tom Griffiths purchased the bakery and, with his family, ran it for over forty years. The Griffiths era saw the bakery evolve with the times while maintaining its commitment to fresh, handmade baking.
Today, Wedges is owned by the Heptinstall family, who continue to invest in the bakery and its people. The ovens still fire up before dawn, the bakers still arrive in the early hours, and the bread is still baked fresh every single morning. Some things, thankfully, never change.
If you are ever passing through Hockley Heath, whether by car, bike, canal boat, or on foot, stop by and experience a bakery that has been at the heart of this community for over 175 years.