Am, there you go speaking that crazy gobbley-de-gook British again. I didn't understand the first 2/3 of your post.

Treacle? Pinned oatmeal? Victoria sponge cake? Clapshot? Oatcake?

I get your point though - it's hard to find food before processing. In the US, rice is pretty popular (probably b/c of our immigrants?), but other grains are difficult to impossible to find. I don't think I've ever seen barley outside of a home-brewing shop, only a few types of yeast at any store, and never plain old "oats" anywhere. Sure, oatmeal... but is that the same thing?

And I admit I'm guilty of it too. I have a 3lbs bag of rice, some oatmeal, and lots of "instant" potatoes as my starches. I can't cook worth a damn.