Tonbridge Cookery writer Eliza Acton....

In her day, which was the middle of the 19th Century, she was bigger than Mrs. Beeton (late 19th Century) perhaps even than Delia Smith in hers. The best thing is that she lived in part of the house which is now known as The Priory in Bordyke, Tonbridge, only a couple of hundred yards from where I now sit. Even better a few of the recipes in her famous book, Modern Cookery For Private Families, immortalize Tonbridge with tastey ideas like Bordyke Veal Cake, Tonbridge Cake and Tonbridge Ginger Wine. I won't say too much more about her because I'm probably going over old ground. I've had trouble in the past tracking down a copy of the book, which was the first to list ingredients and provide an easy to follow method, but now it has been reprinted so you can buy a copy from your favourite Tonbridge book store. No not WH Smith but Mr. Books! There are a number of copies in stock priced £16.99 in hardback which, when you see the size of it, you'll know is good value. You could pay over £100 for a first edition of the book but why do that if you only want to read it....