Monday March 11 1957 was unremarkable except for the only notable event in the culinary history of Greigbury; the opening of the first Bilam’s Butcher Shop.
Markus Bilam was a native of Greigbury, married to Amanda. 32 in 1957, he had spent several years apprenticing and working as a butcher prior to opening his own shop. He quickly proved popular with the townspeople and was able to open another shop in neighbouring Newport in early-1958. Over the next few years, the business expanded until Bilam had a chain of 12 shops bearing his name.
Respected for the quality of its service and produce, Bilam’s was also known for its range of self-prepared dishes. Foremost among these was their pork pie. It quickly became their best seller and was known throughout and beyond the county for its taste. For several years it repeatedly won 1st place in its class in the English Pie Awards.
Although now reduced from its former greatness, with only 2 stores remaining, it is still a popular choice in Greigbury and the pork pie remains the towns favourite snack. Bilam’s made its mark on the town in other ways, as the success of the chain made Marcus a wealthy man. He used this wealth to sponsor the construction of the town library in the late 1960s after it burnt down following an act of arson. The library now bears his family name and serves the community’s appetite for knowledge in much the same way as Bilam himself served its baser hunger.