A well-loved bakery in Oldham that almost hit its 160-year milestone announced it's 'the end of an era' as the shutters came down for the final time.
Robinsons Artisan Family Bakery, which is considered Greater Manchester's oldest family-run craft bakery, was established in 1864 and first started at Angel Meadow, just shy of four miles away.
But the bakery went through some changes, first adapting its name to Robinsons and then relocating to its final home in Failsworth in 1968.
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Since then, the bakery has stood on Ashton Road and, despite being passed through six generations, weathering two world wars, two recessions, a great depression, the pandemic and the threat of supermarkets and fast food chains, it was the cost-of-living crisis that forced the family to close the premises for good on Friday, December 16.
Earlier this year, owner David Robinson announced the family had decided to sell the shop and cited financial pressures as well as his retirement while his daughter, Grace, decided to pursue other passions outside baking.
Then on their final day, the family said sent thanks to customers over the years.
On a now-deleted Facebook page, the Robinsons said: "And so here we are. At the end of an era. Passed down through six generations, learning all the way."
Their baked goods have gone on to shock shops and wholesalers all across the north west as well as "some of the finest restaurants, bars, coffee shops and stores", they added.
The post continued: "As well as market stalls left, right and centre, and in all weather too, and the odd package sent out in the post, our fabulous goodies managed to find their way to you for almost 160 years.
"We always wanted to be a local bakery and I think we achieved that with huge success.
"We took great pride in what we made and the service we provided and we are sure our team will take all of those skills and use them wherever they end up in their futures.
"To all the people who have joined us over the years - thank you.
"Staff and customers, suppliers and awesome people in the industry.
"Without you this little hub we had wouldn't have been the same.
"And it truly was fantastic.
"But the saying goes, all good things come to an end.
"Love forever, David, Sue, Grace and Emma."
In a separate post, Grace Robinson described her time at the bakery as a "rollercoaster" since she joined in 1999.
Grace added: "I'll never be able to express my gratitude for the lessons this place and my dad specifically taught me.
"I became a grown up here.
"It has been very very hard since 2020 and making big decisions one after the other has taken its toll.
"When it was time to make the biggest decision of all, my dad just kept saying “Grandad would make the decision in an instant”.
"He wasn’t a ruthless man, far from it, but he was black and white when it came to business.
"So whilst it has been horrible and there’s been so much turmoil people haven’t seen and I have questioned myself every minute of every day, I know it’s the right decision.
"Anyway, to you all - my family, team, customers and friends, Thanks. Thanks for helping me make it out alive.
"I’ll see you around, just not around Failsworth any more."
While the chapter closes on Robinsons, a new one begins as earlier this month, it was revealed a new family will take over the premises and keep its legacy as a bakery alive.
The Martin family, made up of Neil, his daughter, Jenny, and son-in-law Toby, will open Martin's Bakers and Sandwich Makers just in time for Christmas.
If you have a story, I cover all things Oldham from food reviews and local business news to music and events, pubs, education, crime, property, health, community concerns and much more. Please email me at Olivia.bridge@newsquest.co.uk or send me a message on Twitter @Livbridge with your news.
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