Formby Asparagus.

Formby is situated on the south-west coast of Lancashire ( in what is now laughingly known as Sefton), however I digress.
In the later part of the Nineteenth century asparagus growing started commercially on a small scale, it formally grew wild. Night soil from Liverpool was brought to the area and used to fertilise the fields, this improved the thin sandy soil.

This local crop gained a reputation for its flavour and quality over the years, so much so that in the early years of the twentieth century, during its short harvest, Formby asparagus was served on cruise liners.
It is reputed to have been sent by rail for sale in Harrods.
The crop has a short (six week) season, it finished this week end.