Town marks match inventor's accidental discovery
Stockton Borough CouncilA town is celebrating the bicentenary of a local inventor's accidental discovery of friction matches with two years of events.
John Walker inadvertently created the first friction match in 1826 when a coated stick ignited upon striking a stone at the front of his fireplace in Stockton.
Hestarted out as an apprentice to a surgeon, but later opened a chemist shop in the town, leading to his accidental discovery which changed the world.
Stockton Council cabinet member for leisure and culture Nigel Cooke said he was "very excited" for the celebration of such an "extraordinary local inventor".
Museum gallery walks, live science demonstrations, craft workshops and creative writing sessions are some of the planned activities.
Events are planned to start next month to coincide with what would have been Walker's 245th birthday on 29 May.
The activities this year will celebrate the inventor while building momentum towards a larger event programme in 2027, which marks the 200th anniversary of when Walker sold the first friction matches in his Stockton shop, the council said.
"Preston Park Museum holds several rare and nationally significant artefacts relating to John Walker and this programme will shine a spotlight on him," Cooke said.
"We hope the events taking place will inspire people and provide a spark like the impact Walker had with the everyday match we are all familiar with today."
