What's on: Holland's Pies exhibition, Manchester, November 10 to February 12 (From Lancashire Telegraph)

What's on: Holland's Pies exhibition, Manchester, November 10 to February 12

2:14pm Friday 11th November 2011 in Baxenden By Jonathon Dillon, Assistant news editor

IF THE proof is in the pudding, a new exhibition celebrating the 160th anniversary of Holland’s Pies should be a meaty success.

The interactive exhibition at the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester features a visual timeline, memorabilia and a day in the life of a pie display.

It also includes a 40-year-old burnt-to-a-crisp pie owned by Tony Johnson, from Bacup, who has taken it around the world on holiday.

Holland’s Pies chef consultant Tom Bridge said the firm, which makes around a million pies a week at its factory in Baxenden, had stood the test of time as it used traditional ingredients.

He said: “All the ingredients are locally sourced. The pastry recipe dates back to the Second World War.

"It’s a warm-water pastry which is unique. They had rationing so they didn’t have much fat.

“The Holland’s pastry is less fattening than shortcrust pastry.

“We use Lancashire cheese in the cheese and onion pie.”

And there are no artificial colours or preservatives.

And Tom, who has cooked for the likes of David Niven and Frank Sinatra, and written 23 cook books, revealed the latest filling will be lamb.

He said: “We have been working on that for the past six months. It’s been tried and tested and should be out early next year.

“Our biggest selling pie is the meat, but one of my favourites is the steak and kidney.”

One of Tom’s most imaginative creations was a Valentine’s Pie, which came out this year.

Holland’s was founded by John Whittaker who owned a confectionery shop in Haslingden in 1851 and he employed Richard Holland.

Richard went on to marry John’s stepdaughter who took over the business and renamed it Holland’s.

Accrington band the Phil Knight Experience were also at the launch and sang their ‘Meat Pie Song’ dedicated to Holland’s.

You can get your picture taken with a giant pie for a chance to win a year's supply of Holland's Pies.

160 years of Holland's Pies

1851 John Whittaker starts a confectionery shop in Haslingden and employs Richard Holland.

1869 Richard marries the boss’s daughter, Sarah, and they take over the business, re-naming it Holland’s.

1907 Baxenden is established as the home of Holland’s Pies. Deliveries are made by horse and cart.

1927 The first Holland’s vans hit the roads, complete with green, red and gold livery. A further fleet of vans arrives in 1938.

1981 Tesco and Asda became the first supermarkets to stock Holland’s Pies – making them available to more people than ever before.

2009 Holland’s launches its first online shop, delivering to customers anywhere in UK.

The Holland's Pies exhibition is at the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester from Thursday, November 10 to Saturday, February 12. Open daily. Free.