This photo from John Howlett must be one of the oldest Grantham one we have published – but where was it?
The quality of this picture is not very good but I find it extremely interesting and full of atmosphere. One can almost smell the animal fat cooking in preparing the tallow to make the candles and sympathise with these chaps escaping into the fresh air for relief from the smell.
My Great Grandfather Thomas Nix can be seen at the back of the picture holding the box.
Born on the 24 March 1830 Thomas Nix began his working life as a Brick-maker but somewhere between 1851 and 1861 he became a Tallow Chandler, an occupation that he was to follow for the rest of his life.
He married Ann Ayto on the 10 February 1856 and died on the 24 January 1893 Aged 62.
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