Acknowledgements and References

We would like to thank Preston Park Museum, The Science Museum, The National Lottery Heritage Fund, Republic Technologies (UK), North Yorkshire Archives, Stockton Reference Library, Teesside Archives, and the following individuals who have all helped, supported and advised us in the preparation of this exhibition : Alan Downer, Alan Middleton, Arthur Alderton, Brian Aldred, David Figg, Derek Judd, Carolyn Hewitson, Cori Dales, Graham Johnson, George Page, George Sibley, Helen MacPherson, Ian Stubbs, Jackie Russell, James Harvey, James Oxley-Brennan, Jayne Hooper, Keith Kendall, Ken Thomas, Mark Middleton, Mark Rowland-Jones, Michael Midda, Mike Pryor, Padraig Middleton, Pat Stevens, Paul Dobson, Peter Appleton, Peter Pålsson, Phil Bunce, Prof. Frank James, Prof. John Gowlett, Ray Easter, Ray Hewitson, Richard Tolson, Roger Fennings, Ruth MacDonald, Sam Johnson, Shakil Huq, Sue McVey, Tom O’Key and William Allardice.

We are grateful to Wikimedia Commons for the use of Stock images throughout this exhibition. All images have been attributed where possible, with attribution credits here.

References

The following publications have been used extensively in the research for this exhibition :

1. The True History of the Invention of the Lucifer Match, Michael Heavisides, 1909
2. Bryant & May Museum of Fire-Making Appliances, 1926 and 1928 Catalogues, Miller Christy
3. A History of the Match Industry, M F Crass Jnr, 1941
4. Matchbox Labels of the World, A J Cruse, 1946
5. Matchbox Labels, Joan Rendell, 1968
6. Strike a Light, Doreen Thomas, 1971 (reprinted 1990)
7. The Darkest England Match Industry, David C Mitchell, 1973
8. The Day Book of John Walker, Doreen Thomas, 1981
9. The Match, The Box, The Label, Joan Rendell, 1983
10. Matchbox Label Collectors Encyclopaedia, John Luker, 1984
11. The Matchmakers, Patrick Beaver, 1985
12. From Swedish Matches to Swedish Match, Loewe, Jonsson, Rossell, 1997
13. The Book of Matchbox Labels, Roger Fennings, 2001
14. The Matchgirls Memorial, www.matchgirls1888.org
15. John Walker, a new biography, Alan Middleton, Match Label News 2025 and 2026

Click here to return to the Exhibition Catalogue.