Digest>Archives> Mar/Apr 2018

1960s Matchbox Lighthouse

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Members of Class 1 at the Kelvedon Hatch County Primary School in Essex, England are shown here placing the final touches to a five-foot tall model they made of the world famous 1882 Eddystone Lighthouse, a project that started in March of 1960 and was finally completed on November 7, 1960 when this photo was taken.

The lighthouse model was made of 1,466 matchboxes, many of which had been collected by headmaster Mr. G. Jeffreys from inmates of the H.M. Prison in Chelmsford, England where he lectured.

Interestingly, matchboxes themselves are almost a thing of the past. At one time, there were numerous companies producing wooden matches and matchboxes, and the various images that appeared on the matchbox covers were, and still are, highly collectible. Matchboxes are not to be confused with matchbooks.

By looking at the images on the wall you will notice pictures of the Eddystone lighthouses, as well as lots of text, which indicated that the students also studied the history of the light station as well as its architecture.

We wonder how many of these students are still around who remember making this lighthouse? We also wonder if the model of the lighthouse still exists. Photos like this from the archives of Lighthouse Digest are an important part of history and provide us with a look back in time that helps us better understand where we came from and how people once lived.

This story appeared in the Mar/Apr 2018 edition of Lighthouse Digest Magazine. The print edition contains more stories than our internet edition, and each story generally contains more photographs - often many more - in the print edition. For subscription information about the print edition, click here.

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