World's oldest wedding cake made in 1898 survived World War II blast.

Is this the world's oldest wedding cake? Creation made in 1898 even survived World War II bomb blast

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER
Last updated at 6:13 PM on 13th February 2011

This is believed to be the world's oldest wedding cake - baked 113 years ago.

Incredibly, the delicately decorated Victorian cake, made in 1898, is still in one piece and even has a crack sustained in a World War Two bomb blast.

Despite its age, a recent investigation with a syringe discovered the rich fruit cake inside is still moist.

Ornate: This 113-year-old wedding cake is believed to be the world's oldest - and was was originally on display in the window of a family bakery in Basingstoke

Once white as a symbol of purity, the ornate cake, complete with its floral display, has browned with age.

The confectionery was originally on display in the window of a family bakery, in Basingstoke, Hampshire, which closed in 1964.

It had been moved to a loft, where it remained for almost a century, until the baker's daughter donated it to the little known Willis Museum in Basingstoke.

Under fire: The cake survived the bombing in World War Two - here an attack on London is shown

Museum curator Sue Tapliss said: 'It has been stored in unfavourable environmental conditions, leading to the cake heating and causing the sugars to seep through to the icing, giving it a darker colour.

'The baker's daughter, who was unmarried, donated the cake towards the end of her life due to fears someone might discover it in her attic and think she had been jilted at the altar.'  

A delicate operation involving two conservators has been carried out and the cake has now been dried using packets of silica gel to prevent further deterioration.

 

Mrs Tapliss added: 'It underwent conservation work following concerns from museum staff who had noticed a distinct colour change.

'Upon investigation using a syringe, the cake was found to be very moist.

'A large crack in the icing, the result of wartime bombing vibration, was in a precarious state due to the weight of the icing pulling away from the cake itself.

'Pieces of Queen Victoria's wedding cake were auctioned off but this is the world's oldest complete wedding cake.'  

Mrs Tapliss added: 'We hope that the cake can be enjoyed for a further 113 years.'

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1356557/Worlds-oldest-wedding-cake-1898-survived-WW2-bomb-blast.html#ixzz1Ds0OC1tb