In the 1851 census, Henry Turner was listed as a confectioner in St Nicholas Street. The PO directory of 1855 lists 32 St Nicholas Street as the Muffin & Pyflet public house, run by Henry Turner.
In 1861, Sarah Letts was recorded as a pyflet maker (known elsewhere as a ‘pikelet’ – a sort of griddle cake, similar to a muffin), but there is no house number. The 1875 Directory names Thomas Taylor as a pyflet baker living in St Nicolas Street.
In 1887-1890, Maria Johnson listed her business as “refreshment rooms and confectioner”. By 1900, Thomas Dunkley is at 32 St Nicholas Street, listed as ‘confectioner and refreshment rooms.’
We know that pyflet and confectioneries was made here, and have to take at face value that the PO Directory was correct in listing it as a public house in 1855. Although there was another Pyflet house with a licence in Chatham St, so maybe not that unusual for the time.
Muffin & Pyflet – great name though.
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