Mini-post: “Shops and Shopping” pamphlet box, and what comes next…

Sometimes, you see something and you think – huh? And then – why??? That was my reaction on seeing the cover of the book produced for the 1900 Universal Trades Exhibition in Halifax, which was held at Thrum Hall. So I looked inside to find out more. Read on for a selection of interesting advertisements and a plug for our upcoming “Picking Up The Threads: Researching Crossley’s Carpets” event on September 16th 2022.

This festival of commerce must have truly been a sight; a massive production about the destruction of Pompeii was the centrepiece of the event, with the cast numbering over 550 according to the book. There were also exhibitions around the cricket and football leagues in Halifax at the time, and many photos of strapping lads pretending to catch a rugby ball. It also includes some fantastic examples of turn-of-the-century advertising, reproduced below.

And now, for the plug - do any of these businesses catch your eye, and make you want to find out more? It's possible you don't know where to begin. Pop into Local Studies at Central Library and Archives. We're always happy to point you in the right direction...