Best-ever traditional Eccles cakes

Ingredients

• Pastry
• 120 gram high grade flour
• punch of salt
• 100 gram butter, chilled
• 50 millilitre iced water
• Filling
• 1/2 cup currants
• 1/2 cup other dried fruit – Nici used sultanas, figs and prunes
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon mixed spice
• 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
• 2 tablespoon brandy or rum or orange juice (optional)
• 20 gram butter, chilled
• 1 egg, plus milk for egg wash
• 1-2 tbsp caster sugar
• aged cheddar cheese, to serve