The recognised creation and history of fireworks started with black powder; the largest ingredient of fireworks. The explosive chemical was discovered by the Chinese in the first century BCE – approximately 2000 years ago. Later in China, in the 10^th Century, black powder was used to make the first firework, named a firecracker.

The Chinese were producing fireworks as part of a ritual in celebrations such as Chinese New Year to scare away evil spirits and boast good luck and prosperity – a sacrament still carried out today. Fireworks were originally made using bamboo shoots filled with black powder intended to emit a loud bang with a puff of smoke.

Fireworks in Europe

Years on in the 15^th Century fireworks were introduced to Europe, allegedly by traveller and trader Marco Polo. Instantly popular, firework manufacturers began to emerge in countries such as Italy and Germany where the gunpowder formula used in China was replicated. At this time fireworks were mainly used for military purposes but were also gaining popularity marking special events. In France in 1560 the first firework display marked Francis II ascension to the throne. Fireworks were also getting popular in England mentioned in some of poet and playwright Shakespeare’s plays of the time.

Firework advancements

In the 18^th Century firework production became more of an educated chemistry and skill generated from two European schools of pyrotechnics; one in Italy, one in Germany. The German school predominately focused on scientific advancements and the Italian school worked on firework effects and the introduction of colour. It was in Italy that the next notable contribution to fireworks was made, developing self-propelled aerial shells which soared high before a delay explosion, making a vivid firework display.

Following the advancement of aerial shells firework manufacturing became an art with more elaborate and sophisticated fireworks generating colourful and vibrant firework displays. Fireworks quickly became captivating entertainment for viewers; firework displays were getting longer and firework designs and shapes were alluring and exotic.

Fireworks today

Fireworks have come a long way since they were founded; pyrotechnic displays continue to amaze people all over the World and the popularity of fireworks continues to grow. Fireworks are now available to the general public all year round from licensed and reputable companies, meaning you can buy fireworks online for any occasion. Many now choose to enjoy fireworks in the comfort of their own home and attend organised firework displays annually for New Year or a public holiday.

Radio Leeds – 4^th November 2010

Helen Ashton, Marketing Manager at Black Cat and Standard Fireworks is a guest on Radio Leeds’s radio show feature on the 4th of November joined by reporter Richard Edwards at the Standard Fireworks headquarters in Huddersfield. Talking about Bonfire Night and fireworks, types of fireworks, firework history and how to stay safe with fireworks and enjoy Bonfire Night. Let us know your views about fireworks after reading below.

Radio DJ: “We’re talking Bonfire Night! What are you doing tomorrow night? Are you doing one of those big council display gigs or are you doing your own? Wherever you end up there’s a strong chance that the fireworks will have been made in West Yorkshire and our reporter Richard Edwards is spending the day at Standard Fireworks in Huddersfield! Hello!”

Richard Edwards: “Hello Alex”

Radio DJ: “How’s it doing down there then?”

Richard Edwards: “Well it’s an absolute dream job isn’t it? Spend the day at a firework factory – every big kids dream isn’t it?”

Radio DJ: “You got to be careful though because if you have a lighter in your pocket or anything like that, you don’t want to be dropping any cigarettes around a firework factory do you really lets be honest”

Richard Edwards: “I will refrain from smoking my pipe whilst I’m here”

Radio DJ: (laughs) “If you wouldn’t mind”

Richard Edwards: “I think that probably would be sensible. Yes, Helen who’s with me now is just telling me that is absolutely not allowed – safety is King here. But I tell you what Alex the feel of the place is almost like a brilliant throw back to the days before health and safety because it’s got a wonderfully old fashioned feel about it, a lot of history here. You’ve got some examples just inside the foyer of when the factory had to close down from making fireworks during the war and make munitions. So in there you’ve got things like a practice incendiary bomb and something wonderfully sounding – a gun flash whatever that does.

But health and safety is absolutely paramount here and is the King. We’ve had to be really careful about setting up to broadcast here but the factory has kindly been accommodating. I’ve just come from the showroom where I was surrounded by absolutely wonderful sounding items, what were they called? One was called Monster Mayhem, that sounds pretty good doesn’t it? These are fireworks Alex by the way. Another one was called Dragon Rider which sounds brilliant but best of all on the wall in there were some of the classic firework posters. Now I don’t know if you remember, I was a child of the 80’s, and there was quite a sinister looking Guy Fawkes figure who was made out of fireworks used to haunt my dreams in the 1890’s I’ve just come face to face with him again so that’s nightmares for me again tonight”

Radio DJ: “What’s the facts and figures then? How many fireworks are they actually turning out there in November?

Richard Edwards: “Well lets get some facts and figures from Helen, who’s Helen Ashton, she’s the marketing Manager down here. Helen, how many fireworks do you turn out here? What sort of market share have you got for the country’s fireworks?”

Helen Ashton: “Hi, basically we supply over 17 million fireworks into the UK market each year, were the UK’s No.1 firework supplier and the firework market is worth around £55 to £60 million in the UK”

Richard Edwards: “So that’s huge then. I’ve been talking about it’s a big kids dream to be down here, it must be brilliant to work in a firework factory isn’t it?”

Helen Ashton: “Yes its very exciting, id say it’s different to most jobs, obviously, we work really hard all year for the big peak around November 5^th tomorrow – that great British tradition of Bonfire Night”

Richard Edwards: “So you’re all busy working all hours at the moment then getting ready for tomorrow evening?”

Helen Ashton: “Yes – the office is crazy, there’s deliveries going out everyday, the Factory shop is open, everyone is working all hours”

Richard Edwards: “And Helen what is your favourite firework? Ill get a bit of expertise from you here, what do you like the best?”

Helen Ashton: “Its one of our newer products you may have heard of it, it’s a single ignition, which basically means it’s a complete display in a box. You light it once and it does a wonderful choreographed display for you firing things like green, red, gold and silver starbursts, glitter and things called screaming fish. I don’t know if you’ve seen those? But it’s really fantastic you just have to light one thing and it does it all for you”

Richard Edwards: “Alex I was more of bangers and air bomb repeater man in my day, which were fantastic, you can’t get them anymore but there are some brilliant looking things here, any requests for me to bring back?”

Radio DJ: “Yes have you got any sparklers?”

Richard Edwards: “Any sparklers Helen?”

Helen Ashton: “Yes we can give you some sparklers – the nation’s favourite you cant really have a Bonfire party without them”

Radio DJ: “Good to talk to you there Richard thanks for joining us at the Standard Fireworks factory in Huddersfield keeping the skies alive for Bonfire Night tomorrow night.

Radio Cambridge – 3^rd November 2010

Helen Ashton, Marketing Manager at Black Cat and Standard Fireworks is a guest on Radio Cambridge’s Wednesday show talking about Bonfire Night, fireworks, firework traditions and firework safety.

Radio DJ: “I’m delighted to say that joining me from Standard is Helen Ashton; Helen good morning”.

Helen Ashton: “Morning!”

Radio DJ: “Now Standard have done well to keep going haven’t they, because, I was a child of the 50’s and remember there was only probably 2 or 3 makers of fireworks in those days; I think it was Standard, Brocks maybe Benwell as well, but Standard still going, a name synonymous with fireworks particularly to me and my generation”.

Helen Ashton: “That’s good to hear, yes Standard Fireworks we’ve been established for over 100 years as the UK’s leading firework supplier. Were based in Huddersfield and we supply over 17 million fireworks to the UK market each year”.

Radio DJ: “And I suppose in a way the firework market has expanded because, once upon a time it was probably a week before November 5^th and then that was it for another year, but people want to let off fireworks for all sorts of reasons these days”.

Helen Ashton: “Yes, there’s the great British tradition of Bonfire Night as we know but also people do buy fireworks now for things like birthdays, parties and weddings at other times of the year so we do see sales across the year not just at Bonfire Night.

We’ve got some great facts though; we’ve just conducted a Mori Poll survey this weekend which has revealed that 2/3 of the British public feel that Bonfire Night is a great British tradition that needs to be upheld so were extremely pleased about that.

Following on from that it also revealed that 14 million people this year are going to be enjoying fireworks in their own garden. Perhaps like we said we did when we were children, and I think these days there are not that many things that families can do in their own gardens in terms of live entertainment”.

Radio DJ: “So that’s very encouraging then if people are returning to their garden because you know, as I said growing up in the 50’s, everybody had a bonfire in their garden virtually, I lived in villages I always have, but because the garden plot would have been finished for the Summer so you always had soil where the potatoes or the cabbages have been, easy to have a bonfire. And then for a few shillings, even though it was of course a lot of money in those days, you could get a box of fireworks, usually Standard, and have your own display – it’s good to know its coming back really.

Helen Ashton: “Yes, yes, I think those figures were great to see that the public are really enjoying the British tradition of Bonfire Night and as you said, some of the best things that were selling these days are traditional selection boxes that we had when we were children. They’re great for families of all ages, great for different sizes of gardens, and they give you a really good selection of different things like fountains, roman candles, mines, rockets and Catherine wheels”.

Radio DJ: “I mean you say that there are a lot of people in favour of keeping it, there are, you know every year voices saying this is a waste of money and a waste of time and we shouldn’t be marking it for whatever reason and of course it’s not helped by people who behave stupidly with fireworks in the build up and indeed after the date, but its good to know that people still want it to continue as a tradition”.

Helen Ashton: “Yes, were very excited with the results as you said, there can be people that cause anti-social behaviour with fireworks but we find that if you follow a few simple safety tips; like I said over 14 million people each year have a safe and enjoyable Bonfire Night, for example we recommend that people buy a reputable brand offireworks that all comply with the strict European and UK safety legislation and guidelines. If you buy your fireworks from a retailer that you trust such as one of the large supermarkets maybe Tesco or Sainsbury’s, follow the instructions on the firework, stand then at the correct spectator distance away from the firework and follow the firework code; you can have a fantastic time in your own garden with fireworks.

Radio DJ: “There are of course so many fireworks that are no longer with us, so many people remember jumping jacks, you don’t sound old enough to remember them, but they were like a little brown concertinaed thing that you lit and they just went off jumping randomly. I presume things like that have been banned because you hear of health and safety, and Catherine wheels that wouldn’t go and your Dad would give them a flick and catch on fire!”

Helen Ashton: “Yes, as you mentioned bangers and jumping jacks have been banned since 1997; legislation banned those sorts of fireworks as they were felt to be unsafe, so yes, they’re not available anymore”.

Radio DJ: “What about the price? Because I was saying, you know 2 or 3 shillings was a lot of money in the 18950’s but do you get the feeling that, pardon the pun, but prices of fireworks have rocketed? Is that fair?”

Helen Ashton: “Well, no. We would say that fireworks are perhaps the best value these days that they’ve ever been, because as I said, they’re sold in a lot of the large supermarket and DIY chains and you’ll find that they’re offering things like buy one get one free on selection boxes and rockets and a range of fireworks. So for approximately £20/£30 a family can buy a varied amount of items to have a fantastic display in your own garden which I think is great value for money.”

Radio DJ: “And is there a threat from firework suppliers from outside the UK, for instance China?”

Helen Ashton: “Basically, fireworks are made in China but they all, all the fireworks in the UK, have to pass the strict UK and European guidelines so I wouldn’t really say there’s a threat from companies trying to sell into the UK.”

Radio DJ: “Finally, what will you be doing on 5^th November?”

Helen Ashton: “Ill be buying some fireworks and having some friends and family round to have a fantastic display in my garden and celebrate that great British tradition of Bonfire Night.”

Radio DJ: “It’s the perfect answer! It’s been really good to talk to you Helen thanks very much for joining us”

Helen Ashton: “Thank you very much, bye!”

Radio DJ: “Cheers all the best. So that’s Helen Aston from Standard Fireworks, still with us after 100 years!”

We’ve been through a lot over the last 118 years at Black Cat and Standard Fireworks, from aiding efforts in the First and Second World War to designing and importing over 17 million innovative and exciting fireworks every year.  With years worth of knowledge and experience it’s no wonder we’re the UK’s leading firework brand!

Standard Fireworks was the brainchild of Yorkshire draper James Greenhalgh. Established in 1891, Standard Fireworks moved to its Crosland Hill site in Huddersfield in 1910 where it now covers over 100 acres.
During both the First and Second World Wars production switched to munitions and became an essential part of the war effort.
The post-war years brought further expansion and the company was floated on the Stock Market in 1959. In 1988 Standard Fireworks bought the old established Scottish based Brocks Fireworks Ltd, seeing all fireworks production transferred to Yorkshire.
During the 1980s and 1990s Standard Fireworks became a major employer in the Yorkshire region with a 500 strong workforce. 1998 saw the purchase of Standard Fireworks by the Chinese based Black Cat Fireworks. As the largest manufacturer of fireworks in the world, Black Cat switched firework manufacture to China.

The Huddersfield site is now the UK headquarters for Black Cat and acts as the Sales, Marketing and Distribution centre for both Black Cat and Standard product ranges.
Continued investment in new product development, logistics, sales and marketing have ensured Standard Fireworks will remain the leading family favourite firework brand in the UK. Black Cat has established itself as the brand leader for fireworks enthusiastic and continues to produce innovative ranges.