Phantom Bread Maker Haunts English Town of Forey

Residents of Forey, England have received surprise gifts of bread from a baker known as the Phantom Bread Maker.

By Kathryn Hawkins. Posted on February 19 2010

Bread may be little more than flour, yeast, and water, but when it’s baked properly, it can be one of life’s greatest simple pleasures. Topped with butter and jam, it makes a wonderful breakfast; for dinner, it provides the perfect accompaniment to a bowl of hot soup. And, as residents of the town of Forey, England have discovered, it makes a wonderful gift.

Recently, some residents of Forey have begun receiving unique deliveries to their doorsteps from a secret baker: fresh-baked loaves of bread wrapped in paper, with a personalized note signed from “The Phantom bread maker of Old Fowey Town,” along with an image of a figure in a dark cloak.

Although the town officials were suspicious of the packages, many Forey residents devoured their loaves instantly—and are now hungry for more.

“I think it’s a nice gesture and I don’t think it’s a gimmick,” one of the locals, Karen Taylor, told Western Morning News. “We have eaten the bread and it was delicious.”

The locals guess that the Phantom Bread Maker is a friend of theirs who simply enjoys baking and likes to surprise people. While some are eager to know who’s behind the act, others are happy to let the mystery remain and simply enjoy the bread—though one local, Michael Penprase, had a special request for the anonymous baker.

Penprase left the loaves displayed in his home’s window, with a joking note: “Please phantom bread maker, can you slice it next time?”

And the very next morning, Penprase received another delivery: three beautiful fresh loaves of bread, sliced to order.

Filed under: General Interest, Weird,