Library Crunchie muncher sought for 'relic' wrapper

Workmen dismantling shelves at Cambridge University Library got a sweet surprise when out fluttered an old chocolate bar wrapper from at least 50 years ago.

The orange wrapper of the Crunchie bar - made at the time by confectioner Fry's - had a pre-decimalisation (which took place in 1971) price of 6d emblazoned on it.

There were still some crumbs inside the wrapper, said Lizzie Woodman, the library's social media co-ordinator.

Posting about the vintage find of the "chocolate relic", the library asked the culprit to "fess up" if they remembered munching the Crunchie and discarding the wrapper decades ago.

The Crunchie, a chocolate-covered honeycomb bar, was first introduced by Fry and Sons in 1929 and later became part of Cadbury's range.

The wrinkled wrapper was found as shelves were being taken apart at the University Library earlier this month.

Printing on it dates the confectionary to before decimalisation was introduced in the UK.

This particular bar, which claimed to be "bigger" for the "same price", would have set its sweet-toothed bookworm back 6d - or six pennies - or a sixpence.

On 14 February 1971 there were 12 pennies to the shilling and 20 shillings to the pound. The following day the pound was made up of 100 new pence.

Posting on Facebook, X and Instagram, the university wrote: "OK, it's time to 'fess up. Who ate a Fry's Crunchie bar in the UL and hid the wrapper behind some books?

"Mark in our facilities team got a surprise when he unearthed this chocolate relic recently. Who can help us date it?"

The mystery muncher of the Crunchie has not yet owned up to discarding the wrapper, but the image has been well-received by fans of both chocolate and the library.

Comments have included asking how often books are taken out and shelves are cleared, to which the library said it was home to nearly ten million books and other items.

Ms Woodman said: "Sometimes we find fascinating reminders left behind by past members of the library.

"The wrapper had been stashed behind some books and then fallen down the back of the shelves so it was trapped under the bookshelf, meaning it could stay hidden for over 50 years."

She added: "With millions of books and more than 205km (127 miles) of bookshelves, it's hardly surprising that things sometimes stay hidden for so long."

The post encouraged some people to begin researching the history of the popular sweet treat in an attempt to date the wrapper, with opinions varying from the 1950s to the late 1960s.

It has further prompted memories of buying sweets before decimalisation was introduced and just how many "fruit salad" chews could be purchased with 6d of pocket money at the time.

The BBC has asked Cadbury's to comment on the find.

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