Hi P - the following might be like the one you describe - I'm thinking of a similar cake w/out the fruit that I get occasionaly in bakers in Somerset when there too - the crunchy top comes from the brown sugar caramelising and the base is a soft rich texture - try the following as suggested omitting the fruit:
http://www.thefoody.com/baking/drippingcake.ht ml
There are quite a few variations on the name of this - Ilkley Cake, Traditional Welsh Dripping Cake - even James Martin has joined in with this idea too, but they all have the fruit & peel in them as far as I can see.
My mother used to make something very like this too, cut into squares to try to make it last - never worked...This was a proper cake - not with loads of junk chemicals added...
One option that might be along the lines of a breakfast item is Dripping Bunes - recipe here:
http://www.retrofoodrecipes.com/dripping_scone s_1955.html
The Retro Recipe site has stacks of 'proper food' ideas that you might like as well if you want to give a surprise - Coq au Vin and Sole Mornay, hotpots soups and so on - have a trawl and get that apron dirty!
And ten shillings!! Good grief thats a weeks wage
pet.......obviously from the Big House then, not the close.........
Hope that helps as well..