This type of candle holder is called a tinder box and was used in many households in the early 1800s. The top of the candle holder is the lid of the box, which would contain either a piece of flint, as well as a piece of metal called a steel. Along with these the box would contain dried out material called tinder. The type of tinder the box and what it contained varied depending on what the owner had to hand, what was important was that it was dry and could burn very easily. The owner would use the flint and steel to make the sparks. These sparks would light a piece of tinder which could then be used to light the candle. The development of friction matches soon made this type of candle holder obsolete.
Wig roller found in the grounds of Herborough House
Wig roller found in Bartholomew Street Newbury.
