Right next door to Scampston Hall is a bakery which is a must visit if you ever happen to be in the area. The baker is an amazing woman in her 40s who lives with her husband and family in an old house on site where she has converted the old stables into her shop, cafe and kitchen.
Tables are set inside, outside and in a field housing the chicken and turkey run, which is where we headed. This place has a very homely feel. Our friend starts work at 3am seven days a week after 4 hours sleep, which she says is all she ever needs. Everything in the shop is made personally by her; the bread of the day, cakes, friands, slices, hand molded pork pies, little quiches, cream slices, large and small fruit cakes, jams and chutneys, all the pastries, custards etc. etc. And all very reasonably priced. The other staff start work at 10am as the customers arrive.
Faced with an impossible task of choosing something from this array, my choice eventually was the cream and custard morello cherry slice, which was light as a feather, earning it a 'best ever' label from me. Graham bought some pork pies to take home.
This busy lady was more than happy to chat to us at the end of her very long day about her life and work, in her wonderful Yorkshire accent. (She used to be a solicitor!) She told us it was her lifelong sleep habits, or lack of them, which had prompted her to think of a way to make good use of the wee small hours of the morning in a productive pursuit. She told us she would continue for perhaps another 6 years, then turn to teaching others how to run the business. I'd say it would be a totally impossible act to follow.
