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Eton mess is a traditional English dessert consisting of a mixture of strawberries or other berries, broken meringue, and whipped cream. First mentioned in print in 1893, it is commonly believed to originate from Eton College, a boys’ school near Windsor, founded in 1440 by King Henry VI. The term “mess” may be associated with the messy appearance of the dish, but might also refer to a collection of people who eat together.[1]
The generally accepted story is that a strawberry, meringue and cream pudding to be served at a 19th-century Eton vs. Harrow cricket match was dropped, and rather than waste it, it was scooped up off the floor, smashed to bits and then served in individual bowls.[2]