The Firework Shop List Blog

This is a very rare treat for the firework shop list. We have not 1 but 3 Firework posters from the 1800 from my home town Wakefield, West Yorkshire, Courtesy of  Twixt Aire and Calder.

First image up is a Firework poster in the 1840 at the wakefield market place opposite the Strafford Arms Inn on Tuesday January 16th Contributions were to be collected from the audience. After the fireworks, Mr Gyngell would give a performance of his illusions at the Mechanics’ Institute on Wood Street.

Firework display in Wakefield Market Place, 1840s

Second image is another firework display poster from 1846 opposite the Corn Exchange, Westgate. The poster reads A handbill for a display of French, Italian and Chinese fireworks to take place on Monday 9th March 1846 opposite the Corn Exchange, Westgate, Wakefield, later Argos superstore. The display was to be given by Mr L.V.Gyngell from the Royal Gardens, Vauxhall, with contributions being collected from spectators.

Firework display on Westgate, Wakefield, 1846

Third and final image, A firework posater for the Grand Gala at Wakefield Zoological Gardens, 1844. Poster reads, Grand gala and firework display at Wakefield Zoological Gardens on September 18th 1844 accompanied by a band. The Zoological Gardens were opened on Back Lane on 10th July 1839 by Mr Russell. On 1st June 1844, a bear escaped from its enclosure, where it attacked a Mrs Hazelgrove who lived within the gardens. She tragically died within a week. This led to the zoo’s closure shortly after.

Grand Gala at Wakefield Zoological Gardens, 1844

This is a very rare glimps into the past of firework event in Yorkshire. Once again i would like to thank Twixt Aire and Calder for letting me use these images.