Isabella Beeton

Author (1836-1865)

Universally known as “Mrs.Beeton”, Isabella Beeton was a publishing phenomenon, becoming a household name that far outlived her 28 years. She lived much of her early life at Epsom racecourse where her step-father was clerk.

After marriage to publisher Samuel Beeton and moving to Hatch End, she wrote articles on cooking and household management for his popular magazines.

‘The Book of Household Management’ was ahead of its time, seizing an opportunity to provide a definitive guide to running a Victorian household. Her book contained 1,000 pages of fashion, child care, animal husbandry, poisons, management of servants, science and religion – and over 900 recipes. It was the first cookery book with colour plates and recipes in a format still used today