Williams Bakery in Wool is seeking a new owner following the tragic passing of Clive Williams in June of this year.

Clive WIlliams

Should a new owner not be found, it would bring to an end a 96 year legacy which dates back to 1927, when the bakery was opened by Lionel Williams.

In 1961 his son Edward took on the mantle, working alongside his wife Betty until they retired in 2001.

Edward’s son Clive had been working in the business since 1976, joining the family bakery straight from bakery college. When Edward retired he ran the bakery with support from his late wife Rosemary.

If no new owner is found in time, the bakery will serve its last customers on Christmas Eve.

“My brothers sudden passing has had a huge impact on all of us here and his knowledge and experience are sorely missed,” said Bruce Williams, Clive’s brother.

“Our staff have worked tremendously hard to ease the transition to business without Clive but without his experience and talent we feel the time has come to close.

“It does concern us that the village will lose a long-standing shop and employer, but sometimes the right decision is not the easiest one.”

At its peak, Williams the Baker had shops across Dorset, branching out into Swanage, Wareham, Dorchester and Weymouth, selling a range of traditional bread, cakes and pastries as well as supplying a number of other shops, hotels and pubs across South Dorset.

The Williams bakery is also home to The Dorset Flapjack Company, which used to send Dorset Flapjacks around the country and into Europe.

With demand for traditional baking declining in recent times, and with the pressure of supermarkets and large national chains combining with testing economic pressures, sustaining a small business such as Williams Bakery has been difficult.

Bruce added: “Continuing to try and run a business that requires years of skill and experience without the knowledge and expertise of Clive and under the current market and economic pressures facing small businesses across the UK we have been left with no choice.

“We are saddened to say goodbye to some truly wonderful team members and our historic family business.”

The family are keen to hear from anyone who would be interested in continuing the bakery & coffee shop in Wool, a much valued and popular community asset.