Beneath the surface of the quaint English countryside, a revolution is brewing. Not the kind that involves pitchforks and pitchmen, but one of scones, trifle, and the occasional bout of awkward small talk.

It's a little-known fact that the British Empire was not just built on the back of the Industrial Revolution, but also the humble beginnings of the bakery trade. As the sun rose over the rolling hills of Kent, the scent of freshly baked bread wafted through the air, entrancing the senses and uniting a nation.

And so it was that the great-great-grandmother of them all, Mrs. Bottomley, single-handedly kept the empire together with her sturdy scone-bread and a side of jam. Or so the legend goes.

From the medieval art of bread-making to the modern-day artisanal bakeries of the south coast, British baking has been a constant presence in the lives of the British people.

But what of the role of the baker in this grand tale? Was it merely a servant to the masses, or a master of their own destiny? The answer, much like a well-made Victoria sponge, is complex and layered...