Mary Berry, the beloved Great British Bake Off judge, is set to explore the roots of her faith in an upcoming Easter food special. However, in 2014, she delved into her family history for the BBC show 'Who Do You Think You Are?', uncovering a poignant tale of hardship and resilience.
Berry admitted she knew little about her family but believed 'genes come through'. Her research revealed that her paternal grandfather's family were well-educated, with her grandfather working in a school, his brother in a solicitor's office, and his sister as a dress-maker. However, tracing further back, she discovered her great-grandfather was raised in a single-parent household.
Her great-great-grandmother, also named Mary Berry, ran a successful corset-making business with a live-in servant, according to the 1851 census. Yet, there was no mention of a husband, leaving the fate of the children's father unknown. The most heartbreaking discovery came with her great-great-great-great grandfather, Christopher Berry, who went bankrupt in 1811. Most of his family ended up in the workhouse, except for two children, including Mary's direct ancestor.
Christopher had been a stationer, printer, and bookseller in Norwich before his business failed. Workhouses of the era were often overcrowded, disease-ridden, and had high child mortality rates, though some provided education and healthcare. Philosopher Jeremy Bentham described them as prison-like, designed to 'grind rogues honest'.
On a lighter note, Berry also discovered ancestors who shared her baking profession: a great-great grandfather who was a baker employing three men, according to the 1861 census. Mary Berry's Easter Feast airs on Saturday at 6pm on BBC 2.
