The Fairy Lamps of Cricklewood

The Gas Works 

In 1869 the Childs Hill Gas works was built off Cricklewood Lane at the Childs Hill end of the road. Over time, they provided gas to homes and businesses across an area from The Hyde Edgware to Golders Green, including Cricklewood and parts of Kilburn. The name of the gas works changed several times as they expanded their coverage.

The proprietor, Henry Skoines, a gas engineer, advertised his improved and patented method of producing gas in 1873 which was in use in Tenby and his own Kilburn and Cricklewood Gas Co. Shares were issued for his Coal Economy Gas Co. in Nov 1873.

In early 1876, the Midland Railway built their own gas works at Hendon to supply gas to their stations from Hendon to St Pancras. So Skoines lost his main contract. In May 1877 he sold the 10 miles of mains and meters for £3,750 (today worth about £380,000) to the very large Gas Light and Coke Co. which supplied gas to most of London. 

Clarkes Patent Pyramid and Fairy Lamp
At the same time Clarkes candle makers bought the site from Skoines. The local Childs Hill builders Messrs Baths and Sons made extensive alterations to the old gas works to turn it into a candle factory.

Samuel Clarke had established the company in the 1840s. His son Samuel Birdsey Clarke joined him. He was born in February 1857, one of eight children. Birdsey was his mother's maiden name. 

There were Clarke showrooms at Nos. 75, 123, and 132 Regent Street. They only made the candles, and commissioned a large range of shades from various glass manufacturers which were stamped with the Clarke logo of a fairy.

They made a slow burning candle and light called Cricklite (named after Cricklewood).

Their patented Pyramid candle had a thick plaster shell which allowed it to burn alone for hours without the protection of glass.

 

One of their best sellers was called the Burglar’s Horror.

 They made the candles from tallow and rendered the animal fat in the Cricklewood works. Samuel B. Clarke, aged 24, is shown as manager there of the ‘Pyramid Night Light Factory’ in the 1881 census. 

The company were very good at promotion and marketing. For example, they provided 23,000 Fairy lights for the Botanical Gardens at Kew for Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee Fete in 1887. Clarke exhibited at the Chicago World’s Fair of 1893 as well as other exhibitions.

The company vigorously protected their patent and there are numerous records of legal actions taken against those who infringed the Clarke patents, logo, or trade names.

Eventually, as profits declined, the company was wound up in July 1910 by Samuel B Clarke.
He sold out to the rival Prices Candle Company who continued to use the name Clarkes Pyramid Works into the 1920s. The name was changed to Francis A Tucker and Co Ltd, candle makers of 31 Ashley Place Victoria Street and Cricklewood. They are shown in Cricklewood from at least 1928 to 1954. In fact, the company was still under the control of Prices Candles who had bought the renowned church candle maker Tucker and Co. in 1911. 

The un-named candle factory is still shown on 1950s OS map.

Francis Tucker and Co. was there until Hendon Council built the Longberrys estate.

Today, there are Fairy Lamp collector clubs who value the many Clarke models.