Our Window Display for December 2017
Our latest window display features the
Christmas cracker which was invented by London-based confectioner and baker
Tom Smith (1823 – 1869) who set up shop in Goswell Road,
Clerkenwell in the 1840s.
On
a trip to Paris Tom came across the French 'bon bon', a sugared almond
wrapped in a twist of tissue paper, which he copied and sold at
Christmas. Anxious to develop the 'bon bon' idea further and
stimulate year round sales, Tom decided to place a small love motto
in the tissue paper.
When
Tom died, at only 46, his expanding cracker business was taken over
by his three sons, Tom, Walter and Henry. Walter introduced hats into
crackers and he also travelled around the world looking for new ideas
for gifts to put in the crackers. Crackers and paper hats were made
by hand, which involved cutting tissue paper with heavy guillotines,
pasting, folding and carefully packing for a perfect presentation.
The idea of wearing a paper crown may have originated from the
Twelfth Night celebrations, where a King or Queen was appointed to
look oversee the Wassailing.
The success of the cracker
enabled the business to grow and move to larger premises in Finsbury
Square, employing 2,000 people by the 1890s, including many female
workers.
The
Second World War caused paper rationing and a restriction on the
manufacture of cracker snaps, but the industry recovered – in the
1950s and 1960s, Tom Smith & Co. was making 30,000 crackers a
week.
Lostwithiel Museum would like to thank Black Dog Antiques and Interiors for sponsoring our Christmas Window.
Our Window Display for October 2017
Our
latest window display features the development of Railways in
Cornwall, concentrating on the history of Lostwithiel Station.
In May 1892 the conversion from Broad to Standard Gauge from Exeter to Truro was completed in just 2 days.
In
1907 the midnight sleeper from Paddington to Penzance arrived just 7
hours later. More information about the history of the Penzance Sleeper
train available from this linkDuring
the Second World War trains of ammunition arrived at War Department
sidings at Lostwithiel Station. The ammunition was unloaded by American
soldiers and taken out into the countryside where it was stored in
fields behind hedges.
1922. Lostwithiel Station looking west showing the fine footbridge.
Note: Click on images above for larger view
******************
Our Window Display for July 2017
Our latest window display celebrates the history of the Duchy Palace. It
is not known if the Great Hall of Lostwithiel, or the Duchy Palace,
began to be built by Richard, Earl of Cornwall or his son Edmund. Edmund
inherited the title after his father died in 1272, only four years
after acquiring Lostwithiel. It was never a palace but the administrative centre of the Duchy lands and where tin was assayed, and the county court was held. It
later became a coinage hall, Stannary hall and gaol. Earl Edmund held
the title for twenty seven years and during his time Lostwithiel became
the undisputed capital of Cornwall. More pictures from our display are
available via this link.
(Note: Click on images for larger view)
******************
Our Window Display for June 2017
Our latest window display celebrates the history of Lostwithiel Carnival. Dating
back to at least 1875 Lostwithiel Regatta and Gala day included the
Flora dance, decorated boats on the river, a carnival procession and the
crowning of a gala queen. The Carnival scheduled for Saturday
2nd September 1939 was cancelled, being the day before Britain declared
war on Germany. More details of the events planned can be read by
clicking on the poster. In the 1970’s the celebration developed
into a week of events and since the 1990’s has been organized by the
Rotary Club. It became Lostwithiel Carnival, as we now know it, in
2003 and this year will be held from 16th to the 22nd July. Information about the latest carnival can be found on Lostwithiel Rotary website.
(Note: Click on images for larger view)
******************
Our Window Display for March 2017
Our latest window display has converted the museum window into a old fashioned sweetshop.
(Note: Click on images for larger view)
Our Window Display for January 2017
Our latest window display depicts the links between Cornwall and Mexico,
concentrating on how the making of Cornish Pasties was exported to
Mexico. More information in the Latest News section of our website.
(Note: Click on image for larger view)
|
|
