This is one of the earliest references to any type of crumble.
Original Receipt from 'A Shilling Cookery for The People' By Alexis Soyer (Soyer 1845)392. Apple Cake. - Butter a pie-dish near a quarter of an inch thick, throw in a large quantity of bread-crumbs, as much as will stick, when pressed well, on the butter; then have some apples already stewed down and sweetened, of which nearly fill the dish, put one ounce of butter in bits, cover over with bread-crumbs, also half an inch thick, put into hot oven; when done, pass a knife round and turn it out, sugar over, and glaze with a red-hot shovel.
If used hot, a little rum put round it and lighted is very nice.