It's truly October! New Arrivals and Seasonal Inspiration! Also, Ever Heard of 'Humbug Billy'?

Hi everybody!

It's truly October! 

“I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers."

- Anne of Green Gables

How excited are we to announce the last of our Autumn products for 2022?!
It's been such a busy year, but this is our favourite time! With new products from The Upturned Cauldron, Askew's Candles and the launch of our very lovely 'Just Treats' vintage pumpkin pails, just in time for the big night, we're so happy to finally unveil the last of our spooky shop! However busy you are over the next month or so, we hope you find time to enjoy the season (and the calm before the storm that is Christmas!)

We love a spooky story this time of year - but unfortunately this one is true! In 1858, the Bradford sweets poisoning involved the arsenic poisoning of over 200 people when sweets accidentally made with arsenic were sold on a market stall! 21 victims died as a result. William Hardaker, known by locals as "Humbug Billy" would purchase his supplies from a local sweet maker not far away, and the sweets in question were peppermint humbugs, made of a peppermint oil in a base of sugar and gum, the sugar for which was very expensive. As a result of this, Hardaker's supplier, William Neal, would often substitute powdered 'gypsum' (or 'daff') for some of the sugar - a practice common at the time within a range of foodstuffs. On the date in question - 30th October 1858, Neal sent his lodger to collect his order from the local druggist - however due to the druggist being ill at the time, the task was overseen by his assistant, who pointed out that the daff was in the attic. However, rather than daff, his lodger was sold 12 pounds of arsenic trioxide - a mistake undetected by even experienced sweet maker at the time, James Appleton, employed by Neal. (Who himself became ill during the production of the humbugs, but didn't equate this to the poison.) 40 pounds of lozenges were sold to Hardaker, who upon realising the sweets looked different to usual, received a discount before selling roughly 5 pounds of sweets that night. Of those who tasted the sweets, over 200 became ill within a day (including Hardaker himself as he was one of the first to try them) and 21 people died! The tragedy had a major impact on life today, including being a major contributing factor to The Pharmacy Act 1868, the requirement for better record keeping - currently upheld under the Poisons Act 1972 and legislation regulating the adulteration of foodstuffs as a result of the events.
Rest assured - no arsenic in our pumpkin pails!

...and finally onto slightly merrier things! It's already been a year since we posted 'Getting into the Halloween Spirit' - where we pulled together some of our tips from our previous life as a party planner, and although a lot has changed for us over at Pretty Odd HQ, a lot of the info is still as relevant today! It's not too late to catch up for this year! (However much or little you're into this time of year - there's sure to be some inspiration for you, we hope!)

As ever, thank you for your continued support.

The Pretty Odd Team x