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Scene inside a blacking factory, Holborn, London
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Scene inside a blacking factory, Holborn, London
Scene inside the packing warehouse of the Day and Martin blacking factory, Holborn, London. Date: 1842
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Media ID 23210894
© Mary Evans Picture Library
1840s 1842 Barrel Barrels Blacking Conditions Container Containers Holborn Manual Manufacture Manufacturing Martin Packing Warehouse
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This evocative image captures the interior of a blacking factory warehouse in Holborn, London, during the 1840s. The scene presents a stark contrast to the bustling streets outside, revealing the harsh realities of the industrial working conditions during the Victorian era. The dimly lit space is filled with rows upon rows of barrels, each one brimming with a thick, tar-like substance used to manufacture blacking - a common shoe polish at the time. Men in ragged clothing and bare feet work diligently, shoveling the blacking into containers, their faces etched with concentration and determination. The air is thick with the pungent smell of the substance, and the atmosphere is heavy with the sounds of industry: the clanging of metal, the thudding of wooden barrels, and the hushed chatter of the laborers. Despite the grim conditions, there is a sense of camaraderie and unity among the workers. They move in sync, each one performing their role in the production line, contributing to the greater good of the factory. The scene is a testament to the resilience and dedication of the working class during this period, who toiled tirelessly to fuel the engines of the Industrial Revolution. This photograph offers a rare glimpse into the inner workings of a blacking factory, providing a snapshot of a bygone era and shedding light on the lives of the unsung heroes of the Victorian industrial landscape.
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