Needler’s Ltd was a manufacturer and producer of confectionary founded by Frederick Needler in 1886. Initially operating from Anne Street before relocating to a large factory on Bournemouth Street, off Sculcoates Lane, it’s business peaked in the 1920’s employing around 1,700 employees - predominantly women - and producing 650 tonnes of chocolate and 1,500 tonnes of sweets per year. In 1938, Needler’s chemists developed the very first ‘glace fruit’ - a perfectly clear fruit drop - showing the company’s innovative approach. Needler’s went through various stages of ownership particularly from 1986 until its closure in 2002. Needler’s history and heritage is now preserved in the ‘Urban Sensation’ redevelopment scheme (named after one of their famous sweets) which turned the site of the factory into Needler’s Way residential estate.

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For the piece, we took inspiration from the range of confectionary produced by Needler’s - over 500 varieties at its peak. The simple, small shape of a sweet wrapper was suitable and accessible for our group with learning needs to get involved and we set out to make as many as would fill the perimeter. These sweets are made using varying techniques including crochet and, even, clay! The sweets surround symbols of Needler’s legacy that are evidenced in archival photographs and information; the famous factory building, their distribution vehicles and some female employees - or ‘the sweetie girls’ as they were known.