Joseph Huntley and George Parmer are the founders of the world famous Huntley and Palmers Biscuit factory which was based in Reading. In the early 1800’s, London Street in Reading was the main stage coach route from London to Bristol, Bath and the West Country.
One of the main stopping points for stage coaches was the Crown Inn. This was opposite Joseph Huntley’s shop, and he started selling his biscuits to the travellers on the coaches.
Huntley realized that the biscuits were vulnerable to breakage on the coach journey, so he started putting them in a metal tin, the first time this had ever been done. Out of this innovation grew Huntley & Palmers.
Whilst it was Joseph Huntley’s innovation of the biscuit tin and in the sale of biscuits to stage coach travellers, George Palmer is credited with using innovative industrial manufacturing techniques and using the railways for distribution.
In addition to his business career, George Palmer served as mayor of Reading and represented the town in parliament.
He served as Liberal Member of Parliament for the Parliamentary Borough of Reading from 1878 until 1885.
His country estate was Marlston House in Bucklebury.