Green’s Dictionary of Slang

crackling n.

attractive women, used as a generic.

1970		A. Fowles Dupe Negative 73: She was no lady. [...] Sir Bernard, in his rags to riches climb, must have retained a preference for crackling [OED].
1984		Partridge DSUE (8th edn) 264/2: since ca. 1890.
1989		J. Morton Lowspeak.

In phrases

bit of crackling (n.) [bit n.¹ (2a)]

1. an attractive woman.

1894		E.W. Rogers [perf. Marie Lloyd] The Barmaid 🎵 ‘Ror-ty bit o’ crackling don’t you think so?’.
1900		‘Doss Chiderdoss’ ‘A Courting Case in Court’ Sporting Times 7 Apr. 1/4: When you go about, / After work, with your own bit of crackling, / How would you like to have some long fat-headed slop, / When a kiss from your gal you’re extorting, / Come along and inform you that you he will cop / For assault, when you’re only a-courting?
2003		posting at www.aokchat.com 🌐 You Cheeky personage......Although I’ve been called ‘a lovely bit of crackling’.

2. an attractive man.

1914

E. Pugh Cockney At Home 138: I’ll kindly request you to keep your gooseberry optics off my bit o’ cracklin’, if you don’t mind. Go an’ find someone your own age, you low female!