On February 1953, the rationing of sweets and chocolate was finally abolished, after more than ten years, and shops throughout the UK reported a brisk trade in everything from lollipops to liquorice. An earlier attempt to remove confectionery from the ration books, in 1949, had underestimated the nation's hunger for these itmes and ended in failure when demand outsripped supply. During teh latter half of WW2, teh weekly ration of sweets was a mere 2 oz per person, althought this was gradually increased to a more generous 6 oz in teh post-war years.
(Chambers Book of Days)When we were gorwing up, both (yes, we had 2!) village shops had seetie trays; the sweeties were arranged in little compartments in a big sectioned tray, according to price, starting with the two Blackjacks or Fruit Salads for 1/2d up to bigger more luxurious items for 3d LOL Highland toffee, Refresher chews, Blackjacks and Fruit Salad, spaceships, sweetie cigarettes., Swizzles, Parma Violets...............we tried them all! A whole Mars bar to yourself was pure puxury and happened very rarely.
I've just found this site - they might just be getting some custom from me soon, when the finances allow!
Life was sweet. :)
What a lovely site and they've got a brilliant selection of sugar free sweets. I've added it to my favourites so that I can order birthday presents for the diabetics in my family.
ReplyDeleteAnother lovely blog for me to follow, I'm just off to copy out your carrot cake recipe.
There's some interesting foods turn up on e-bay too LOL I found Rishy XL cheese crisps on there, hadn't seen them since I was at school in Scotland!
ReplyDeleteI used to work in a sweetie shop, well newsagents really, and loved counting out the penny sweets.
ReplyDeleteI wish I could remember the name of a type of crisp we had at the school tuck shop. It was sticks or tubes of something potato-y - obviously processed - but they were delicious!
Hannah x