The Queen's Wedding Cake Restoration Project
Learn about the BSG's extraordinary two-year journey to restore Peek Frean's Royal Wedding Cake...
The unveiling of the restored wedding cake at the Peek Frean Museum will forever remain one of the high points in the history of the British Sugarcraft Guild.
Coordinating this unique project involving hundreds of volunteer members, from around the UK and beyond, was a huge undertaking. Witnessing all the work coming together after two years and seeing the cake standing proud once again in its beautiful display case was quite overwhelming; to then receive a civic award for the project really was the icing on the cake!
Here at Sugarcraft North, we are proud that so many members
from around the England North
area enjoyed taking part in the restoration, and not least that our own area team members: Judy Banks, Judith Lynn, and Andrew Hill, had such leading roles in bringing the project to fruition.
The journey began one afternoon in July 2015 when Andrew, the BSG's national office administrator at that time, answered a call from Gary Magold, keeper of the Peek Frean Museum in Bermondsey. Gary explained that their replica of the royal wedding cake had been vandalised and severely damaged whilst it was in museum storage and was calling to ask for advice and to enquire if it might be possible for the historic cake to be repaired or restored.
Andrew forwarded the enquiry to the Guild's national committee where Judy steered the proposal through committee discussions; two years later, during the week commencing 23rd October 2017, the extraordinary journey culminated at the museum as the tiers of the cake came in from the BSG's regions for the final assembly and decoration of the restored cake.
The impressive six-tier cake was finally completed and assembled just in time for the royal couple's Platinum wedding anniversary celebrations on 20th November 2017.
A Brief History
In 1947, Peek Frean made one of the wedding cakes for the then Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip. At the same time, the company made an exact full-sized replica of the cake which was proudly displayed in the reception of Peek Frean's headquarters at the Biscuit Factory in Bermondsey for over 30 years, and subsequently as part of a museum display dedicated to the history of the company, following the closure of the business in the late 1980's. During a change over of museum premises in 2015, vandals gained access to the museum and destroyed the replica cake whilst it was still waiting to be relocated. What remained was then moved to the current museum site before Sugarcraft Guild members came to the rescue...
These photos show the extent of the damage to the historic cake.
The Restoration Process
Detailed measurements and photographs were taken of what remained of the six tiers, making careful note of the original techniques and materials used in the creation of the historic 70-year-old cake.
The original moulds used to create the pictorial side panels on each tier had long since been lost, so using techniques usually applied to modern engineering projects, WMG Warwick brought the latest innovative laser scanning and 3D printing technology, creating the images to enable new silicone moulds to be made. This aspect of the project perfectly illustrates how modern technology, and a traditional craft can work in harmony to recreate a beautiful historic work of sugar art.
Likewise, all the templates for the detailed piping work were no longer available, so Guild members created new technical drawings and templates using the measurements and photographs that had been taken.
It was arranged that completion of each tier of the cake would be designated to each of the six regions of the British Sugarcraft Guild - enabling as many of the Guild's members as possible to contribute towards and take part in this unique and historic project. The detailed instructions along with any remains of the original tiers of the cake were passed out to the regions where workshops were arranged for members to come together and share their skills to recreate new cake tiers.
Final Assembly
The six tiers, along with all the off pieces came together at the museum for final assembly during October 2017.
Over around three days, the small assembly team carefully stacked each of the tiers of the cake using the special pillars, ensuring each tier was level and correctly orientated. Once the six tiers were correctly assembled, the off-piece decorations were carefully added, starting from the top tier, and working down. Miraculously, there were no breakages, although lots of extra pieces had been made - just in case!
Once all the decoration was in place, Gary was invited to add his own royal icing piped blossom as a finishing touch before the sides of the bespoke cabinet were lifted into place and the lid secured.
Standing at over six feet tall, the newly completed cake is housed in a bespoke wooden and glass case crafted by a local cabinet maker in Bermondsey. The beautiful simplicity of the new show case compliments the elaborately piped decoration of the cake perfectly.
The exquisite solid silver top ornament figure of St. George and the Dragon that featured on the top of the original wedding cake was presented as a gift to the Royal couple.
Officials at Buckingham Palace were able to locate the figure in The Royal Collection and very kindly allowed access for the ornament to be laser scanned. Using this data, the team at WMG University of Warwick were able to create an exact replica in resin using
innovative 3D printing technology.
The replica ornament was proudly placed on the top of the restored cake during the week of final assembly by Mike Donnelly on behalf of WMG Warwick.
The replica of the Queen's Wedding Cake was unveiled at the Peek Frean Museum in Bermondsey by Deputy Lieutenant for Southwark, Mrs Jenny Bianco, on 30th November 2017 at a special ceremony in the presence of the project sponsors and invited guests - including descendants of James Peek and John Carr, who ran the biscuit factory along with George Frean.
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Amanda Davies whose great-great-grandfather was Francis Peek and great-great-great-Uncle was James Peek, said she thought the replica was "absolutely wonderful".
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Chris Carr whose great-great-grandfather, John Carr, joined the company after it was founded by Peek and Frean, shed a tear at the unveiling. Chris himself worked at the factory between 1970 and 1980. His grandfather was Chairman, and his dad was the managing director; he recalled going to the factory as a child and looking up at this impressive cake in its huge display case. Of the recreation, he said: "It did overwhelm me because of people doing something for the pure love of doing it when there's no commercial gain and to a standard of perfection, and also whenever I come back to the factory, I feel a tad emotional. It's a lovely project."
Wow! What an honour
The British Sugarcraft Guild was delighted to receive notification from The Worshipful Mayor of Southwark informing us that we had been honoured in the 2018 Southwark Civic Awards for our work on the Queen's Wedding Cake Restoration and afforded the Liberty of the Old Metropolitan Borough of Bermondsey.
Each year, these awards publicly recognise exceptional contributions on individuals and organisations to life in Southwark. A nomination had been made by a member of the public and passed through several committee stages before approval was given. The award was presented at a civic celebration on 21st May 2018. Fantastic news and an amazing achievement.
Members of the British Sugarcraft Guild should feel rightly proud of what we have all achieved together.
With thanks to the project sponsors
Sponsorship for the project was sought from specialist suppliers who provided materials to help the Guild recreate this unique replica cake. The British Sugarcraft Guild is immensely grateful for the tremendous support it has received.
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WMG University of Warwick - Laser scanning & printing
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Renshaw - Manufacturer & supplier of sugarpaste
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FPC Sugarcraft - Bespoke silicone moulds
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Doric FPD Cakecrafts - Made-to-measure cake drums
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Bako North Western - Supplier of icing sugar & egg white
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Insignia Signs - Custom storage & transport crates
Ian Rudge, the husband of one of the Guild's members, whose hobby is woodturning, came forward to make the precision dowels that support each of the cake tiers.
Everyone who contributed towards the restoration project was presented with a special Certificate of Participation.
Let's take a closer look at the restored cake...
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Top Ornament: A six-inch model of St. George and the Dragon. On the original cake presented for the Royal Wedding, the ornament was made using solid silver. This is now kept in the Royal Collection.
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Top Tier: The modelling of the centre plaque depicts a motor torpedo boat as used by Sea Rangers in which Princess Elizabeth served. On the opposite side is the Sea Rangers' badge. Decorated with hand-moulded sugar flowers and piped trellis sections.
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Second Tier: This tier depicts Dartmouth Navel College where The Duke of Edinburgh received his naval training. On either side is a sugar plaque of the Naval Crown. The decoration on this tier all follows a nautical theme, including piped elevated flanges featuring a lifebuoy ring.
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Third tier: The side plaques on this tier are of St. George's Chapel at Windsor. The badges on each side depict the Windsor Coat of Arms. This tier is decorated with Oak leaves and Acorns and surrounded by piped trees with the initials E and P beneath.
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Fourth Tier: This tier depicts the new Coat of Arms of Princess Elizabeth. The tier is completed with columns around each side. Beneath this tier are piped trellis sections with entwined ivy, cornucopia, and wheatsheaves.
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Fifth tier: The plaques of this tier depict HMS Vanguard lying off Table Mountain on the occasion of the Royal Tour of South Africa in 1947. The smaller plaques on each side depict the Vanguard badge. The decoration continues the nautical theme with ropes and anchors.
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Sixth, bottom tier: The modelled plaques on this tier depict Glamis Castle, the seat of The Earl of Strathmore. The side plaques are representations of the Strathmore Coat of Arms, decorated with heather and hundreds of piped sugar blossoms.
The whole cake sits upon the original oak base and is contained within a bespoke wood and glass case.
Gary Magold, manager and keeper of the Peek Frean Museum, speaks to Southwark News about the vandalised cake and its restoration...
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The unique project received media attention from around the world...
The Discovery Channel, Canada filmed
this short package with
Judy Banks and Judith Lynn
(the icing bags!)
focusing on the laser scanning technology we used to help recreate the Royal Wedding Cake.
Click to read the special Feature Article about the Queen's Cake Restoration Project, by Katherine Waters,
published on the Atlas Obscura website. (25.02.2020)
Video: BBC Midlands Today - 20 November 2017
Listen to this brilliant podcast from Proof | America's Test Kitchen
View more photos and videos of the project
on the dedicated Facebook event page
The Peek Frean Museum is open to visitors by appointment only.
The Biscuit Factory, 100 Drummond Road, Bermondsey, London SE16 4DG
For information about the museum, or to arrange a visit, contact Gary Magold
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For further information on The Queen's Cake Restoration Project, please contact Judy Banks or Judith Lynn.