Lid

ID:

74.14/1

Production date:

1891-1901

Location:

In Store

The Salvation Army opened its east London match factory in Lamprell Street, Old Ford, in 1891. The factory was airy, well ventilated and well lit and included tea making facilities for a workforce of up to 150 Londoners, 80% of whom were women. 'Lights in Darkest England' matches were manufactured under trade union approved conditions using harmless red phospherous. This ensured workers were not at risk of developing 'phossy jaw' a facial disfigurement common amongst match girls who worked with white or yellow phosphorus. The factory was directly supervised by the Salvation Army's head of social work, Commissioner Elijah Cadman. Demand to work at the factory was high. As well as offering better working conditions than rival local match firms such as Bryant & May, the factory also paid its workers a considerably higher salary.
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The Salvation Army opened its east London match factory in Lamprell Street, Old Ford, in 1891. The factory was airy, well ventilated and well lit and included tea making facilities for a workforce of up to 150 Londoners, 80% of whom were women. 'Lights in Darkest England' matches were manufactured under trade union approved conditions using harmless red phospherous. This ensured workers were not at risk of developing 'phossy jaw' a facial disfigurement common amongst match girls who worked with white or yellow phosphorus. The factory was directly supervised by the Salvation Army's head of social work, Commissioner Elijah Cadman. Demand to work at the factory was high. As well as offering better working conditions than rival local match firms such as Bryant & May, the factory also paid its workers a considerably higher salary.

The phrase 'Darkest England' refers to the Salvation Army's far -reaching social work programme. Both the programme and the Salvation Army periodical, 'Darkest England Gazette', took their name from General William Booth's publication 'In Darkest England and the Way Out' (1890), that addressed social problems the Salvation Army aimed to tackle, including poverty, unemployment, homelessness, hunger, slum housing, and sex work. Darkest England matches were widely advertised in the War Cry and Darkest England Gazette. Salvationists were strongly encouraged to only purchase matches made at the factory and appeal to the social conscience of grocers to stock them instead of matches made in the UK and abroad from dangerous chemicals under 'sweated' factory conditions. Despite such promotion, the Darkest England matches were inevitably more expensive to manufacture and purchase and retailers and even Salvationists soon reverted to cheaper versions. By 1901 the decline in sales resulted in the permanent closure of the factory. < Hide

Measurements

H 85 mm; W 171 mm (overall)

Materials

paper

Rights Credit

The Salvation Army International Heritage Centre

Last Updated

2024-04-09