Local history considers Elizabeth Moxon a pioneering cookery writer from Pontefract, with her book English Housewifry described as the first modern cookbook by a person from Yorkshire.
Pontefract Museum commissioned Dream Time Creative to investigate the book, and Moxon’s life, in 2018. What quickly emerged, though, were several candidates who could have been the writer. And there’s doubt about whether she was, in fact, just one person at all.
Who Was Elizabeth Moxon?
Possible candidates include Elizabeth nee Shaw who lived in Leeds. Elizabeth married William Moxon, considered a great baker, so this would put her in good culinary company.
Another candidate was Elizabeth nee Hastleton, who came from Pontefract. She married a William Moxon who worked as a stonemason.
The truth is, our writer Elizabeth could be one of these women. Or she could be someone else entirely. We simply don’t know.
What we do know is that the book attributed to her, English Housewifry, remains an incredibly important text, offering an insight into the kinds of ingredients being used in Yorkshire at that time.
A Blue Plaque in Pontefract
A blue plaque commemorating English Housewifry and Elizabeth’s legacy, whoever she may actually have been, is located on Finkle Street in Pontefract. It was unveiled at a celebration event in March 2019.
The Research Behind “Elizabeth Moxon”
The true writer of English Housewifry is still a mystery, but one our researchers loves investigating.
Read the thrilling story of how the research unfolded, and how Elizabeth may not have been just one person at all, in our free research downloads below.
Press and Further Information
Pioneering Yorkshire cookery writer to get blue plaque
Blue plaque for Elizabeth is Pontefract’s first for a woman