At Giant Bradley's Sweet Shop we strive to fulfill all our customers’ sweet wishes and offer a wide range of quality sweets which we deliver throughout the UK.
We have plenty of quality traditional and retro sweets which are presented to you in a variety of sweet boxes, sweet jars and sweet hampers for you to enjoy.
The name of our Sweet Shop is inspired by the local, famous man, William Bradley or as he is more commonly known "Giant Bradley", who was born in Market Weighton on the 10th February 1787 and is one of the tallest recorded British men that ever lived, measuring 7 feet 9 inches (2.36 m) weighing 27 stone.
The business was started by Jacqueline Dyer in 2021 and from a shelf in a bedroom the business has grown to become one of the UK's leading online sweet shops. In 2023 the business opened its doors to the pubic with its first store in Market Weighton, and during this year was nominated for New Starter Business of the Year at the Yorkshire Choice Awards, and won the New Starter Business of the Year Award at the Yorkshire Post Excellence in Business Awards.
With satisfaction reviews on Trust Index at 4.9 out of 5 and a score of excellent, all of our customers past and present can be confident on their purchase.
About Giant Bradley
Born in Market Weighton within the East Riding of Yorkshire, William was the fourth son in a family of thirteen and weighed 14 pounds (6.35 kg) at birth. His father, a master tailor (Note: Market Weighton parish registers instead say he was a Butcher) measured 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m), while his siblings and mother Anne were of average size, one sister who died in an accident at age 16 was also tall.
He was said to have been teased at school because of his height, though many students were scared of him. Teachers at the school were said to have punished misbehaving students by getting Bradley to lift them onto high cross beams, until the teacher decided to have them taken down again. After leaving school he worked on a farm near the town of Pocklington, earning less than 10 shillings (50p) a week.
One day the Barnum Travelling Circus visited the town of Market Weighton. When they arrived they soon spotted the tall figure of William Bradley and wanted him to become their star attraction. Bradley travelled with the group under the alias of the Yorkshire Giant. At the time, "freak shows" were popular and would draw large crowds, and as the tallest British man, Bradley was a prized asset in the business joining the huge Yorkshire Pig which was bred in Sancton two miles from Market Weighton.
After touring many fairs up and down the country, including the Hull Fair, he parted from his minder by 1815 to manage himself. He would charge a shilling for each person to visit him in a room which he hired in various towns. He was even presented before King George III at Windsor who gave him a large golden watch on a chain, which he wore for the rest of his life.
Once he’d grown tired of travelling, William Bradley moved back to his specially designed house on York Road, Market Weighton. The property was converted with high ceilings and doorways to accommodate his extra height. Its structure is higher than the other buildings around it making it instantly recognisable as being the home of a giant.
Bradley lived at York Road in Market Weighton from his birth in 1787 to his death in 1820 aged 33. His coffin was 9ft long and 3ft wide and he was buried inside the church because of fears of graverobbing.
Bradley’ lasting legacy in Market Weighton
Market Weighton has embraced the legacy of their famous past resident and since 1996 have been celebrating a Giant Community Day, a family fun day attended by hundreds of people with amusements, rides, stalls and other attractions.
From 2007 the town has a life size wooden carved statue of William Bradley on the High Street created by local sculptor Malcolm McLachlan.
There is also a Giant Bradley Heritage Trail around the town highlighting heritage buildings and a tablet that actually records the size of the Yorkshire Giants footprint.
His house still stands on Market Hill and there is also a street named after him – William Bradley Way, so you can see The Yorkshire Giant has left a lasting legacy on Market Weighton.
He made it into the Guiness Book of Records and Britain’s tallest person.
