THE old recipes of a Bolton woman dating back 100 years have been published in a book by her granddaughter.

Sarah Matthews was born in Salford in 1893 before moving to Thynne Street, Bolton, after her mum died suddenly when she was aged eight, meaning she had to take on the role of “mum” to her six brothers and her father.

Over the years she noted down all her recipes for cakes, cures, medicines, furniture polishes and handy hints from days gone by in elegantly written Victorian handwriting before leaving it to her granddaughter-in-law Patricia Matthews when she died in 1970.

Mrs Matthews has since used the book to make cakes for her children and grandchildren — but in 2007 decided she wanted to share Grandma Sarah’s legacy with others and make it into a book.

In May a publisher got in touch with her and said they would take the book on.

Mrs Matthews, of Longfield Road, Middle Hulton, said: “I’m so thrilled that my dream has been realised. It has been an absolute labour of love.

“I'm sure that Grandma Sarah would have approved. I just hope that people who buy it will enjoy reading it as much as I have enjoyed researching and writing it — along with making and sampling all the delicious recipes, of course.”

A donation from every book sold is going to The Christie Hospital in Manchester.

Mrs Matthews said: “She was the only girl and was born in Salford in 1893 but moved to Bolton after her mum died. Over the years, while baking and cooking for her family, she documented all her tips and tricks in her little recipe book.

“When my husband Ronnie and I started courting we would go round to her house and it would always smell of baking. She was a God-fearing, straight-laced person who wouldn’t stand for any messing — but she had a wicked sense of humour.

“We will never see the like of this kind of woman ever again. They were very resilient people in those days.”

To download an e-edition of the book for £1.99, search for Grandma’s Antique Recipes on Amazon.co.uk.

A paperback version of the book will be available soon.