Price's Candles Established in Fareham

1830

The Price's Patent Candle Company established manufacturing operations in Fareham in the 1830s, becoming one of the town's most significant employers. The company, founded by William Wilson, developed new methods of candle production using coconut oil and other materials as alternatives to tallow. The Fareham works grew to be a substantial industrial operation, with the factory occupying a large site near the town centre. At its peak, the works employed hundreds of local people and was a major contributor to the town's economy. The company was innovative, developing new products and processes throughout the nineteenth century, and the Fareham factory was central to this work. The brand became nationally known, and Price's candles were sold across Britain and exported worldwide. The factory continued operating through the twentieth century, though production methods and product ranges evolved. The site was eventually closed and redeveloped for housing and commercial use, but the Price's name remains well known locally. The former factory chimney was a landmark visible from across the town. The closure of the works was a significant moment in the town's economic history, marking the end of large-scale manufacturing in the town centre. Price's represents the industrial side of Fareham's history, a counterpoint to the market town and agricultural image that tends to dominate local narratives.