Beyond Newport: Caldicot & Henry Jones

Henry Jones (c.1812 – 12 July 1891) was a pioneering baker from Bristol who transformed baking with his 1845 invention of self-raising flour. He founded the family business Henry Jones (Bristol) Ltd, and his innovation promised fresher, more palatable alternatives to the rock-hard biscuits (hard tack) traditionally issued to British sailors. Though initially resistant, the Admiralty eventually adopted the new flour in 1855, thanks in part to support from Florence Nightingale during the Crimean War.

Jones’ flour quickly gained popularity; by 1846 he was appointed purveyor of patent flour and biscuits to Queen Victoria. His success extended across the Atlantic, where he secured a U.S. patent in 1849, and by 1852, Jones’ formula earned a gold medal in Chicago.

Later in life, Jones moved to Caldicot, Monmouthshire, where he lived at Court House from 1864 until his death in 1891. His contribution to baking not only revolutionized kitchens at home and at sea, but also earned him a lasting legacy as one of the most influential figures in 19th-century food innovation.