Chasing Jane, Chapter Five: Lunn's Buns

My next stop on the tour is the former home of Sally Lunn and the oldest building in Bath. The house itself was built in the 1400s, but Sally Lunn did not take up residence until 1609.

Sally Lunn was a young French refugee who brought her knowledge of French baking to Bath. She began making a rich, round bread using a secret recipe known only to herself.

Nearly 100 years after her death, the handwritten recipe was found in the back of a cupboard and the house where Sally Lunn lived, began making Sally Lunn buns. They were hugely popular in Georgian England. Many attempts were made to copy the bun (unsuccessfully), leading to the advent of the Bath bun.

Jane Austen wrote about Bath buns while visiting her Aunt in Bath. Apparently, her aunt was so stingy with meals, Jane often went hungry. She would sneak Bath buns after meals to fill her empty stomach!

Today, Sally Lunn's is still open for business, still churning out the buns that made it famous using the same recipe Sally Lunn used in 1609! The recipe itself is still a secret and passed from owner to owner along with the deed to the house.

I decided I must try these buns at some point in the day, but for now I've places to go, things to see....