Jessie Taylor
Candles were a necessity in Victorian England, as there was no electric lighting. They were made from various forms of natural fat, tallow, and wax, with beeswax candles being the most expensive and longest-lasting. The cost of candles was high, and they were often considered a luxury item, with only the rich being able to afford to light their homes regularly. The candle tax was regularly raised, increasing the expense for those who could afford them. With the advent of the Industrial Revolution in the 19th century, breakthroughs in science and technology made candles more affordable and accessible to lower-income households.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Types of candles | Beeswax, spermaceti wax, tallow, stearin wax, colza oil, rapeseed oil, paraffin wax |
| Cost | Expensive for the poor, but not priced out of range for a charwoman |
| Accessibility | Not widely accessible, even after cheaper alternatives were discovered |
| Usage | Used by the upper classes and occasionally by the poor |
| Taxation | Candles were taxed, with taxes being raised regularly |
| Affordability | The very rich used wax candles with abandon |
| Substitutes | Rushlights, oil lamps, hearth fire |
| Industrialization | Candle-making became an industrialized mass market in the mid-19th century |
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What You'll Learn
The cheapest form of lighting was the rushlight
Candles were a necessity in Victorian England as there was no electric lighting. The cheapest form of lighting was the rushlight. Rushlights were made by repeatedly dipping the pith from inside a rush in melted animal fat (tallow), slowly building up layers until it resembled a thin candle. It was then placed in a special holder, often at a 45-degree angle, and lit. The light produced was barely better than a modern match, and the fat spat, dripped, and guttered. However, for those who could afford no better, it provided some light. In an emergency, both ends of the rushlight could be lit simultaneously to increase illumination.
Rushlights were cheap, but they were also smelly and produced a very weak flame. The slightly more expensive alternative was tallow candles, which were made from animal fat. These were used by the majority of the population, as wax and whale oil were too expensive for consistent use. Even the upper classes would sometimes use tallow candles to keep expenses down.
Beeswax candles were the best and longest-lasting candles, but only the rich could afford them, especially after they were taxed at eight times the rate of tallow. Even the most prosperous gentry used them sparingly, except on grand occasions. To consistently burn beeswax candles was tantamount to burning money.
The candle tax was raised regularly, which increased the expense of lighting for the poor. In 1775, Mary Johnson, in her book on household management, suggested that a middle-class family would need to buy around two and a half pounds of candles per week on average, costing them about sixpence per pound.
In the 19th century, breakthroughs in science and technology, as well as the advent of the Industrial Revolution, made candles more affordable for the lower classes. In the 1820s, Michel Eugene Chevreux discovered a method to extract stearic acid from animal fatty acids, creating a new stearin wax that burned cleaner and was very durable. In 1834, Joseph Morgan of Manchester, England, mechanized the production of candles with his Candle Mould Maker, making candles accessible to everyone.
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Tallow candles were more affordable than beeswax candles
Candles were a necessity in Victorian England as there was no electric lighting. The most popular candles were made from tallow and beeswax. Tallow candles were made from rendered animal fat, while beeswax candles were the best and longest-lasting type of candle.
Beeswax candles were expensive and only the wealthy could afford to use them regularly. In fact, even the most prosperous gentry would use beeswax candles sparingly, saving them for grand occasions. The candle tax in England was raised regularly, which increased the expense of candles for the poor. As a result, tallow candles were the cheaper alternative for most people.
In the 18th century, rushlights were the cheapest form of lighting. They were made by dipping the pith from a rush in melted animal fat and placing it in a special holder. However, the light output was barely better than a single modern match, and the smell and smoke made them unpleasant to use.
In the 19th century, breakthroughs in science and technology made candles more affordable for the lower classes in England. In 1825, Michel Eugène Chevreul and Joseph-Louis Gay-Lussac patented stearin, a purified animal fat with no glycerine content that burned cleaner than tallow. In 1834, Joseph Morgan of Manchester, England, mechanized the production of candles with his Candle Mould Maker, making candles accessible to everyone.
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The candle tax was raised regularly
Candles were a necessity in Victorian England, as there was no electric lighting until the 20th century. The popularity of candles is evidenced by the antique candleholders, sconces, and candelabras that are still found in antique shops and fairs today. However, the expense of candles was not insignificant, and the candle tax was raised regularly.
Beeswax candles were the best and longest-lasting type of candle, but they were expensive and only the rich could afford to use them, especially after they were taxed at eight times the rate of tallow. Even the most prosperous gentry used beeswax candles sparingly, except on grand occasions. The expression "the game's not worth the candle" comes from the idea that playing a dull or low-stakes card game would not be worth the cost of the candles needed to play it.
Adam Smith, writing in 1776, noted the impact of taxes on candles and other everyday commodities:
> "As all those four commodities [salt, leather, soap, and candles] that are real necessaries of life, such heavy taxes upon them must increase somewhat the expense of the sober and industrious poor, and must consequently raise more or less the wages of their labour."
Mary Johnson, in her 1775 book on household management, suggested that a middle-class family would need to buy around two and a half pounds of candles per week on average, costing them about sixpence per pound. This would amount to a greater expense in the winter, when days in Britain are shorter, and less in the summer.
While candles were a necessity, they were not prohibitively expensive. Even a charwoman could afford them, though this does not take into account the rest of her household budget. The very poor, however, would not have been able to afford them, and hearth fires were the primary source of lighting in most homes.
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Scented candles were used in funeral ceremonies
In the 18th century, candles were a costly source of lighting. While tallow candles, made from animal fat, were the cheapest form of lighting, they were smelly and produced very little light. Wax candles, made from beeswax or whale oil, were significantly more expensive, and only the rich could afford to use them regularly. The candle tax was raised regularly, making candles even more expensive for the average person.
However, by the Victorian era, advancements in candle-making technology had made candles more affordable and accessible to the masses. In 1834, Joseph Morgan of Manchester, England, invented the Candle Mould Maker, which mechanized the production of candles. This, along with the discovery of paraffin wax, made candles significantly cheaper and widely available.
Candles were a necessity in Victorian daily life, as there was no electric lighting. They were used in upper-class homes, placed in front of long, tall glass mirrors, or decorating walls as sconces. They were also used in funeral ceremonies, where they served multiple purposes. Firstly, they were used to mask any unpleasant odors that might have lingered in the room where the wake was held. Secondly, they were used to create a somber and solemn atmosphere, often being placed around the coffin or casket. Finally, the flickering flame of the candle symbolized the soul's journey to the afterlife, representing the soul's journey from darkness to light, from earthly life to eternal life.
Scented candles, in particular, were often used in funeral ceremonies. Scents like lavender, jasmine, roses, and honeysuckle were popular choices, as they were delicate, understated, and feminine. These scented candles could also evoke memories of the deceased, with a lavender-scented candle, for example, honoring someone who loved spending time in their garden. Today, scented candles continue to be used in funeral ceremonies, creating a personalized and meaningful experience for mourners.
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The candle-making industry became competitive and profitable
The candle-making industry in Victorian England was a competitive and profitable one. This was due to a variety of factors, including the necessity of candles for lighting, the increasing affordability of candles, and the development of new candle-making techniques.
Candles were a necessity in Victorian daily life, as there was no electric lighting, and gas lighting was only beginning to illuminate urban homes towards the end of the era. The demand for candles was high, and they were used by all classes, with even the very poor using cheaper alternatives like tallow candles, oil lamps, or rush lights. The popularity of candles is further evidenced by the variety of candle accessories that were common in Victorian homes, such as antique votives, sconces, candleholders, snuffers, and candelabras.
In the 19th century, breakthroughs in science and technology led to the development of new candle-making techniques, which made candles more affordable and accessible. In the 1820s, Michel Eugene Chevreux discovered a method to extract stearic acid from animal fatty acids, creating a new type of wax that burned cleaner and was very durable. In 1834, Joseph Morgan of Manchester, England, further revolutionized the candle-making industry by mechanizing the production process with his Candle Mould Maker machine. This transformation of candles from costly commodities to affordable products contributed to the profitability and competitiveness of the industry.
The variety of materials used to make candles also contributed to the industry's competitiveness. While beeswax and spermaceti wax candles were expensive and typically used by the wealthy, alternative materials like tallow, colza oil, and rapeseed oil provided cheaper options that were more accessible to the general population.
The candle-making industry in Victorian England adapted to the needs and desires of its customers, offering a range of products at different price points. The combination of necessity, affordability, and innovation drove the industry's competitiveness and profitability, solidifying the candle's place in Victorian homes.
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Frequently asked questions
The price of candles fluctuated over time and varied according to the type of candle. Beeswax candles were the best and longest-lasting kind but were expensive and only the rich could afford to use them. Tallow candles were cheaper but still too expensive for the very poor. In 1834, Joseph Morgan of Manchester, England, mechanized the production of candles, making them available to everyone.
Yes, rushlights were the cheapest form of lighting. Each was made by repeatedly dipping the 'pith' from inside a rush in melted animal fat (tallow). The light output would have been little better than a single modern match, and it was also smelly. However, if you could not afford candles, it provided some light.
Yes, candles were a necessity of Victorian daily life as there was no electric lighting until a few decades later at the dawn of the 20th century.
According to Mary Johnson's book on household management of 1775, a family of the middling sort would need to buy some two and a half pounds of candles per week on average. This would cost sixpence per pound of candles, or 1s 3d per week.
