Chicory
From the Star, October 16th, 1916. A new Guernsey industry: the manufacture of chicory.
It may be remembered that many years ago a chicory manufactory was conducted in the Bouet by Mr F J Thorne, who now resides at the Ivy Gates. The business flourished, until one night, about thirty-five years ago, a fire broke out in the factory, which was practically gutted, and the work came to an end. The premises were not completely destroyed, as the walls remained, the tall brick chimney remaining as one of the most conspicuous features of the low lying lands which surround the ancient Ivy Castle. Time passed, and the factory remained practically deserted. In fact to have revived the manufacture of chicory would have been most unprofitable owing to the cheapness of the chicory which came from Belgium to England. However, the war broke out, and the supplies of chicory from Belgium stopped.
Mr Thorne then saw an opportunity to resuscitate the manufacture of chicory in the island, and several Guernsey farmers were induced to grow chicory in their fields, the product being intended for Mr Thorne, who had set to work and rearranged the empty premises at the Bouet. Drying kilns were constructed, roasting furnaces were obtained, beside machinery for cutting up the roasted chicory and for grinding it to the proper size for commercial needs. The factory has now been going for some time, and a considerable quantity of chicory manufactured for use in Guernsey as well as in Jersey.
The chicory in its raw state is grown in the island, and is ready for use in the month of October. A considerable quantity is now growing in a field near St Jacques.
[There follows a detailed description of the production of the chicory, drying, roasting and grinding.]
It is to be hoped that Mr Thorne's enterprise in reviving the manufacture of chicory, whose perfection is assured, will be entirely successful from a commercial point of view.