The City Dairy: A Social and Family History

In the 19th century, dairy farmers moved from the countryside to cities, leading to the opening of city dairies. In the 1830s, transportation revolutionized by the railways enabled bulk milk transport from countryside to city, leading to the opening of retail dairies. The cowkeepers fought against corporate dairies but were eventually defeated. The city dairy survived two World Wars and technological changes but faced demise in the 1960s and 1970s with the arrival of the Supermarket. It adapted and joined the ranks of other British institutions.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 192 pages
Publication date: 30 August 2023
Publisher: Pen & Sword Books Ltd

The early nineteenth century marked a significant shift as people from Britain's rural areas flocked to its burgeoning towns and cities, seeking employment opportunities. This trend prompted many dairy farmers to follow suit, relocating themselves, their families, and their cows to the growing urban centers. In the 1830s, a transportation revolution occurred in Britain with the introduction of railways, which facilitated the bulk transportation of foodstuffs, including milk, from the countryside to the city. Large dairy companies capitalized on this opportunity, establishing a new generation of retail dairies. The demand for milk soared, leading to the proliferation of dairies in various cities, with some boasting a dairy at the end of every street.

For the next hundred years, cowkeepers engaged in a valiant struggle against the mighty corporate dairies, who sought to monopolize the liquid milk market. These cowkeepers continued to produce their own milk, selling it directly from the cow to customers over the dairy counter and through the milk round. These family-run dairies were passed down through generations, maintaining their traditional values and practices.

Despite enduring the challenges of two World Wars and the rapid technological, social, and economic changes that followed, the traditional cowkeeper faced a decline. However, the city dairy persisted as a family business, functioning as part of a national distribution network, overseen by the Milk Marketing Board. On the milk round, the family dairyman often blended in with the corporate milkman, indistinguishable from one another.

The sixties and seventies brought about a significant transformation in retailing with the emergence of the Supermarket. To survive, the city dairy had to adapt once more. It expanded its product range and seamlessly integrated into the ranks of other iconic British institutions such as the Corner Shop and the Convenience Store.

Weight: 462g
Dimension: 155 x 233 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781399069014