History in Objects: Empire and Everyday Life

Unknown maker 

Sugar Tongs, People's Collection Wales

These wooden sugar tongs were made using bentwood, where wood is softened with steam or water and shaped by hand. They are decorated with a carved heart and the name Miss J. Williams, suggesting they may have been a personal gift or love token. The tongs were donated to Narberth Museum from the former Museum of the Home in Pembroke. 

Although small and decorative, these tongs are linked to a much wider global history. Sugar was one of the most valuable products of the British Empire and played a major role in the enslavement of African people. From the 16th to 18th centuries, millions of enslaved Africans were forced to work on sugar plantations in the Caribbean and the Americas under brutal conditions. Many also died during the dangerous sea journey known as the Middle Passage. This object reminds us that everyday items can be connected to histories of exploitation, suffering, and environmental damage

 

Made by WA and AC Churchman Limited, Ipswich and Norwich, tobacco manufacturers

Churchman's wireless tobacco mixture tin, Narberth, c.1930, People's Collection Wales

This tin was produced by Churchman’s, a major British tobacco company that later became part of Imperial Tobacco. The wording “Empire Grown Tobaccos” and the image of a white overseer supervising Black workers reveal how empire and racial inequality were presented as normal and positive. 

By the mid 1600s, tobacco had become central to the transatlantic slave trade. European traders exchanged tobacco for enslaved African people, who were then forced to work on plantations in the Americas. Tobacco production became completely dependent on enslavement to remain profitable. 

Enslaved people on tobacco plantations faced relentless labour, violence, disease, and poor living conditions. Their suffering created wealth for plantation owners and companies like Churchman’s, while their voices were excluded from the story. 

This object encourages critical thinking about how businesses, advertising, and consumer goods were connected to empire, racism, and exploitation—and how these histories still affect society today.

 

Made by Burgess and Leigh, Staffordshire

Giant tea cup advertising Thomas Lewis, Tea Merchants, Narberth, People's Collection Wales

This large teacup and saucer were used as an advertisement for Thomas Lewis, a tea and coffee merchant in Narberth. They were made between 1906 and 1912 by Burgess and Leigh potteries in Staffordshire, a well known British ceramics manufacturer. At this time, tea was becoming increasingly popular in Britain and was promoted as part of a healthy, sober lifestyle, especially by supporters of the Temperance Movement. 

Tea was originally introduced to Britain in the 1600s and was first only affordable to the wealthy. Its popularity grew rapidly once the East India Company gained control of tea imports. The company held a monopoly on trade from Asia and played a major role in the expansion of British power in India and beyond. Tea became one of Britain’s most valuable imperial commodities. 

The growth of tea drinking was closely tied to sugar consumption. Sugar was mainly produced on plantations in the Caribbean and the Americas using enslaved African labour. As tea became cheaper and more widely available, sugar use increased, which led to a greater demand for enslaved labour. By the 1760s, profits from sugar imports were so high they helped fund Britain’s navy, which in turn protected overseas trade and imperial expansion. 

Tea production also had lasting impacts on colonised regions such as India and Sri Lanka. Large areas of land were taken over for plantations, changing local economies and environments and often harming Indigenous communities.

This object shows how a familiar drink connects Narberth to global histories of empire, exploitation, and resistance—and encourages us to think critically about the everyday products we still use today.  

 

Unknown maker

Hammer used for corking bottles for James Williams (Narberth) Beer and Wine Merchants, People's Collection Wales

This wooden handled hammer was used in James Williams’ Bonded Stores in Narberth for sealing bottles and barrels of alcohol. It has compressed rubber pads on each end to protect bottles during corking. The bonded stores were built around 1896 and were used to store, blend, and bottle spirits such as whisky, brandy, port, and sherry. Alcohol was kept “in bond”, meaning no tax was paid until it left the building. Strict security was enforced, with Customs officers regularly checking stock and holding one of the two keys needed to enter the stores. 

While this hammer is linked to local industry and trade, its rubber ends connect Narberth to global histories of empire and exploitation. During the 19th century, demand for rubber increased rapidly due to industrialisation and the rise of products such as tyres. European powers turned to their colonies to secure supplies. 

Rubber production was especially brutal in the Congo Free State, which was controlled by King Leopold II of Belgium from 1885. Indigenous Congolese people were forced to collect rubber under extreme violence. Failure to meet quotas was often punished by beatings or death. It is estimated that millions of people died as a result of exploitation, disease, and starvation during this period. 

This object shows how everyday tools can be connected to hidden global histories. It encourages us to question where materials come from, who benefits from their use, and whose suffering is often left out of historical accounts.

 

Made by Stanley Davenport Adshead, Stanley C Ramsey (designers)

Princess Mary's Gift Box, 1914, people's Collection Wales

This brass tin is known as the Princess Mary Gift Box. It was produced in 1914, at the start of the First World War, and was intended to be given to all members of the armed forces of the British Empire as a Christmas gift. The box was designed to promote unity and loyalty across the Empire during wartime. 

The tin is decorated with symbols of the British Empire, including the Latin words “Imperium Britannicum” (British Empire), images of battleships, and the names of Britain’s allies. These designs present the Empire as strong, united, and noble. However, they do not show the full reality of the war or the unequal experiences of those who served. 

The contents of the box varied. Most soldiers received tobacco products such as cigarettes or pipe tobacco. Non smokers received writing materials, while Sikh soldiers were given sweets and spices. Nurses often received chocolate instead of tobacco. These differences reflect how the Empire recognised cultural and religious differences, but also how unequal treatment was built into imperial systems. 

Both tobacco and chocolate were products deeply linked to empire and colonial exploitation. Tobacco was closely connected to the transatlantic slave trade, with enslaved African people forced to work on plantations in the Americas. Chocolate relied on cacao grown on plantations in the Caribbean and later West Africa, often using enslaved or poorly paid labour. The wealth created by these industries benefited Britain while causing suffering elsewhere. 

This object encourages us to think critically about how war, empire, and patriotism were presented to the public, and whose experiences were included—or excluded—from these stories.

 

Unknown maker

Ralph Gaches' cotton loin cloth worn in a WWII Japanese prisoner of war camp, People's Collection Wales

This cotton loin cloth belonged to Ralph Gaches, who served in the Royal Air Force and became a prisoner of war after the fall of Singapore in February 1942. He was held by the Japanese in camps in Java until the end of the Second World War in August 1945. During his captivity, he experienced severe shortages of food, clothing, and medical care. After spending time in a hospital in Singapore, he returned home in November 1945 and later lived in Burry Port. 

The loin cloth is part of a wider collection donated to the museum, including a cotton cap and a cribbage board made from a Dutch mess tin. The cribbage board belonged to an Australian prisoner of war in the same camp, who later died from beriberi and dysentery while working on the Sumatran railway camps. These objects show how prisoners reused limited materials to survive and maintain morale. 

This object is also connected to the history of the British Empire. Singapore was one of Britain’s most important imperial naval bases in the Far East and a key centre for trade and military defence. Australia was part of the British Empire at the time, and soldiers from across the Empire were drawn into the conflict. The cotton used for this garment would likely have come from British controlled regions such as India or Egypt, linking even basic clothing to imperial supply networks. 

This object highlights the human cost of imperial warfare and reminds us that global systems of empire shaped individual lives, suffering, and survival.

 

Made by H. Carl Schiller

Portrait of Colonel Mathias by H. Carl Schiller, 1855, People's Collection Wales

This watercolour portrait shows Colonel Mathias, a British army officer, painted in 1855 by H. Carl Schiller. The Mathias family lived near Narberth, linking this artwork to local history. 

Colonel Mathias served at a time when Britain ruled much of India through the British East India Company. Just two years after this portrait was painted, a major uprising against British rule broke out in 1857. Known as the Indian Rebellion, it involved Indian soldiers and civilians resisting colonial control. 

The British response was extremely violent. After the rebellion, the British government took direct control of India, beginning a period known as the British Raj. In 1877, Queen Victoria was declared Empress of India, symbolising Britain’s tightened grip on the country. British rule continued until independence in 1947. 

This portrait represents more than an individual officer. It reflects the wider system of imperial power, resistance, and long lasting consequences of British rule that continue to shape global history today.

 

Made by J. Lancaster & Sons

William John's mahogany and brass camera, People's Collection Wales

This mahogany and brass camera belonged to William John of Clunderwen, who used it to photograph Narberth street scenes, carnivals, and early aviation events in the early 20th century. His photographs help us understand everyday life and technological change in the local area at this time. The camera was donated to Narberth Museum in 1994 by his son. 

While the camera tells an important local story, the materials it is made from connect it to global histories of empire. Mahogany became popular in Britain from the 17th century and was widely used in furniture and objects like this camera. The wood was taken from the Caribbean and the Americas, often using enslaved African labour. 

Mahogany harvesting was closely linked to the plantation system. Enslaved men, women, and children were forced to fell and transport heavy timbers under brutal conditions. The profits from this labour supported British industries and consumers, while causing suffering and long lasting damage in colonised regions. 

This camera shows how familiar objects can be connected to hidden histories of exploitation. It encourages us to think critically about where materials come from, who benefited from empire, and whose experiences were ignored.

 

Made by S. Maw

Maw's Meritor Dandy baby feeder, People's Collection Wales

This double ended glass baby feeder was made by S. Maw & Sons, a London based medical instrument manufacturer founded in 1814. It dates from the early 1910s, a period of rapid industrialisation when many working class mothers had less time to breastfeed and could not afford wet nurses. Earlier baby bottles were often unhygienic and became known as “murder bottles” because they caused many infant deaths. New designs like this one were safer and reflected growing awareness of public health. 

The bottle is made from clear moulded glass and has measured scales on the side. A rubber teat at one end regulated the flow of milk, helping to prevent babies from choking. Objects like this show how industrial and medical developments changed everyday family life in Britain. 

However, the materials used in this feeder also connect it to global systems of empire and colonial exploitation. Rubber was a key imperial resource. By the late 19th century, demand for rubber rose sharply due to industrial growth. European powers turned to their colonies for supplies. 

Rubber extraction was especially brutal in the Congo Free State, controlled by King Leopold II of Belgium from 1885. Indigenous Congolese people were forced to collect rubber under extreme violence. Failure to meet quotas was often punished by beatings or death, and millions died from violence, disease, and starvation. British and Belgian companies profited from this system, linking everyday objects in Britain to suffering overseas. 

This baby feeder shows how improvements in health and daily life in Britain were often made possible through exploitation elsewhere, encouraging us to question where materials come from and who paid the human cost.

 

Unknown maker

Saccharin tablet tube, People's Collection Wales

This cardboard tube originally held saccharin tablets and is labelled “Standard Strength” and“Order Dec. 1st, 1942.” Saccharin is an artificial sweetener that is over 300 times sweeter than sugar. It was first discovered in 1879 by chemist Constantin Fahlberg and began to be used more widely in Britain in the early 20th century. 

Saccharin became especially important during the First and Second World Wars, when Britain faced severe sugar shortages. Before the Second World War, Britain imported around 70% of its food, including most of its sugar, much of which came from colonies in the Caribbean where sugar had long been produced through enslaved and poorly paid labour. When war disrupted shipping routes and German U boats threatened supplies, rationing was introduced. Sugar was rationed from July 1942, and saccharin became a common substitute sold by chemists. 

The British government worked closely with the British Saccharin Company to increase production, which rose to around 25 times pre war levels. Saccharin was used in homes, teashops, and even “utility” soft drinks, replacing tens of thousands of tons of sugar. Its price and sale were tightly controlled by the Ministry of Food. 

This small object highlights Britain’s dependence on its empire for food and resources. It also shows how colonial trade networks—and their long history of exploitation—shaped everyday life in Britain, even during wartime shortages.

 

Made by L. & B.R. Co.

WWII Gas mask, People's Collection Wales

This gas mask was issued in Britain from 1938, at a time when there was widespread fear of gas attacks as another world war approached. Under laws passed in 1939, everyone in the UK was required to carry a gas mask at all times, and failure to do so could result in a fine. Different types were produced for adults, children, babies, and specialist workers. In total, around 38 million gas masks were distributed across the country. Gas masks were designed to fit tightly around the face and had clear windows so the wearer could see. When someone breathed in, air was pulled through a filter to remove poisonous gas before entering the lungs. These masks became powerful symbols of everyday life and fear during the Second World War. 

The materials used in gas masks also link them to global systems of empire and colonial exploitation. Rubber was essential for making masks airtight. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, rubber demand increased rapidly, and European powers relied heavily on supplies from their colonies. Rubber production was especially brutal in the Congo Free State under Belgian rule, where Indigenous people were forced to collect rubber under extreme violence. Millions died due to exploitation, disease, and starvation. 

Gas mask filters also contained asbestos, valued for its fire resistant properties. Asbestos mining expanded under colonial rule, with British companies controlling mines in places such as South Africa and Canada. Indigenous workers were often poorly paid or forced to work, while serious health risks were ignored or hidden. Asbestos remained in use long after its dangers were known and was not banned in the UK until 1999. 

This gas mask shows how protecting lives in Britain during wartime depended on resources and labour taken from colonised regions, raising important questions about whose safety was prioritised and whose suffering was overlooked.

 

Made by J. Lyons & Co.

Bottle of coffee and chicory essence, J.A. Lyons & Co, People's Collection Wales

This bottle once contained coffee and chicory extract made by J. Lyons & Co., a major British food company based in London. Founded in the late 19th century, Lyons became famous for its Corner House cafés, hotels, and food products. This bottle dates from the 1920s, when liquid coffee essence provided an affordable and convenient way for ordinary people to drink coffee. 

At the time, ground coffee quickly lost its flavour. Coffee and chicory extract could be stored for much longer, making it practical for both homes and cafés. The extract was made by crushing coffee beans and chicory root into powder, forcing steam through the mixture, and then concentrating and sweetening the liquid. In 1930 the product was renamed Bev. During the Second World War, coffee essence was treated as a morale boosting essential, especially when shortages disrupted imports. When supplies of chicory were cut off during the German invasion of Europe, Lyons even adapted by using dried artichokes as a substitute. 

The popularity of coffee in Britain was closely linked to empire and colonialism. Coffee entered British culture in the 1600s and spread rapidly through coffee houses. Growing demand for coffee and sugar depended on plantation systems in the Caribbean, Central America, and South America. These plantations relied heavily on enslaved African labour, enforced through violence and coercion. 

Coffee production was tied to the wider transatlantic slave trade, where millions of Africans were transported to the Americas under brutal conditions. The wealth generated by coffee and sugar benefited European companies like Lyons, while enslaved people endured extreme hardship. The legacy of this exploitation is still visible today, as many modern coffee farmers in Africa and Latin America face low pay, unsafe conditions, and economic inequality. 

This bottle shows how an everyday drink connects Narberth to global histories of empire, exploitation, and resistance, encouraging us to think critically about where familiar products come from and whose labour made them possible.

 

Made by Roberts Brothers

1910 Aeroplane Race Round The British Empire by Roberts Brothers (Glevum), Gloucester, England., People's Collection Wales

This board game dates from the early days of powered flight in the early 20th century. Titled Aeroplane Race Round the British Empire, it was produced by Glevum Games, a company based in Gloucester that went on to become the largest games manufacturer in the British Empire. The game once included wooden aeroplanes and dice and was designed for family entertainment. 

The board shows a journey across the British Empire, including places such as Hong Kong, India (Ceylon), Egypt, the West Indies, Australia, and Canada. Players race between imperial locations, facing obstacles like bad weather or engine breakdowns, but also receiving rewards for favourable conditions. The game presents the Empire as well connected, orderly, and exciting, reflecting popular attitudes at the time. 

Games like this helped promote an idealised view of the British Empire. New technologies such as aeroplanes, telegraphs, and radio were believed to bring Britain’s colonies closer together and strengthen imperial control. However, the game ignores the realities of empire, including violence, exploitation, and resistance in colonised countries. 

During the 19th and early 20th centuries, Britain expanded its empire through industrialisation, warfare, and trade, exploiting natural resources and labour from colonised peoples. Indigenous communities often lost land, rights, languages, and self government, while wealth flowed back to Britain. Although some people in Britain opposed empire and slavery, these views are not shown in popular objects like this game. 

This board game shows how everyday entertainment helped normalise empire and encourages us to question whose stories were included—and whose were excluded—from how the past was presented.