British watercress growers celebrated the 250th anniversary of the sandwich in National Sandwich Week this week by presenting the 11th Earl of Sandwich, John Montagu, with the original version of his ancestor’s fast-food creation. Legend has it the 4th Earl of Sandwich’s first ever bread snack contained cold roast beef, horseradish and watercress.
Montagu’s family seat is at Mapperton House near prime watercress-growing country in Dorset. He also has a partnership in a sandwich chain called the Earl of Sandwich with outlets in the US and in London. Growers are hoping to put the original sandwich back on the menu, not only in the Earl’s sandwich shops but by encouraging the nation to put watercress back into their everyday sandwiches too.
Watercress farmer Charles Barter said: “Watercress used to be a staple part of the British diet and small steps like this can make a big difference to your health and help Britain’s farmers.”
