Table of Contents

GINGERBREAD has become an essential part of Christmas traditions, and there is a town in the UK renowned as its birthplace.

Ormskirk is a market town located in Lancashire, approximately 13 miles from Liverpool.

Mr Thompson's Ormskirk gingerbread with packaging in the background.Ormskirk is famous for its distinctive gingerbread, which has origins tracing back to the 1700s.Credit: http://www.mrthompsonsbakery.co.uk Ormskirk Market Day in the early 1900s, featuring a large crowd gathered on a cobbled street lined with market stalls and buildings, including the Talbot Hotel and a "Woollen & Trimming Merchants" shop.The town boasts one of the oldest and most traditional markets in the country.Credit: Alamy

Ormskirk features its own unique gingerbread, which dates back to the early 1700s when “Gingerbread Ladies” sold their homemade spiced confections from baskets.

These treats were particularly popular at coaching inns and later with railway passengers.

It is even said that King Edward VII was a fan of Ormskirk gingerbread.

While the gingerbread typically found in shops has a distinct flavor and crispness, Ormskirk Gingerbread is quite different.

Its texture is dense, chewy, and cake-like, with a speckled look due to its treacle and candied peel ingredients.

If you wish to try some, Ormskirk gingerbread is still available today at places such as Mr Thompson's Bakery, located at the bi-weekly food market.

Every year, the town hosts its very own gingerbread festival to honor the biscuit's history in Ormskirk.

This event typically occurs in July, with the last festival held on July 13, 2025.

Visitors can enjoy numerous free family activities, as well as stalls offering handmade treats and gifts—all centered around gingerbread.

Of course, sampling gingerbread isn't the only reason to visit Ormskirk in the winter; there are many other attractions to explore.

A man in town crier attire holding a bell next to a large gingerbread man cutout at the Ormskirk Gingerbread Festival.The town hosts an annual gingerbread festival during the summer.Credit: http://www.discoverormskirk.com

If you prefer to enjoy country walks, consider heading to Rufford Old Hall.

This Tudor and Jacobean house, approximately 500 years old, is located on the outskirts of Ormskirk.

Visitors can explore period rooms and enjoy a cozy Victorian tearoom offering afternoon tea, cakes, scones, and tray bakes.

Additionally, there is a secondhand bookshop, gardens, and woodlands, along with a two-mile circular walk from the hall along the canal.

Ormskirk's market operates every Thursday and Saturday, making it one of the oldest in the country.

This traditional market has been in operation for nearly 700 years.

A cozy room with a lit fireplace, two chairs, and a small table.The Kicking Donkey pub features a cozy fireplace and serves Sunday roasts.Credit: Tripadvisor Rufford Old Hall, an Elizabethan mansion with half-timbered and brick sections, and a landscaped garden.
Eze Chidiebere Paul

Eze Chidiebere Paul

I'm dedicated to creating high-quality content that informs, inspires, and delights. If you have any questions or suggestions, don't hesitate to get in touch. Happy reading!