England Glory sign may light up again after 30 years

A sign on a landmark former factory building may be lit up for the first time since the 1990s, if a crowdfunding campaign is successful.

Local historians Matt Cass and Paul James hope to mark the 50th anniversary of Gloucester's Morelands Match Factory closing by raising £15,000 to illuminate the England's Glory sign once again.

From the 1860s until the 1970s, James said hundreds of people - mostly women - worked at any one time at the factory on Bristol Road.

"We've got a couple of local companies on board, a sign company and an electrical contractor," he said. "We've got the enthusiasm for it, we've just got to get the fundraising over the line."

Moreland's match factory was famous for producing England's Glory matches until it closed in 1975.

The site was then reopened in 1978 as the Moreland's Trading Estate.

James said: "Mainly women would have worked in the factory, but there were men there in kind of maintenance and management roles as well.

"Because they were mainly women, that was where the phrase Sammy's Angels came from to call the workers named after Sam Moreland, who was the last managing director of the firm."

The sign is thought to be in good condition but, as it has not been turned on in three decades, Cass said there are concerns it may disintegrate upon touching.

With this in mind, the crowdfunder target of £15,000 will cover a replacement, if needed.

"We were talking about the possibility of bringing back England's Glory matches in some commemorative fashion, with the jokes on the back and maybe sell those," Cass said.

"The profits [would] go to financing replacing the [sign]."

"We really would like to get it done this year if at all possible, because it's the 50th anniversary of the factory closing. So that seems a good time, a kind of quite symbolic time to get it done," James said.

Matt Foy, manager of the Morelands Trading Estate, said his parents moved to Gloucester from Manchester in 1989.

"One of my first memories was having a meal at Wimpy (now Burger King) and on the way home I remember seeing the Morelands match lights.

"It was such a shame when they were turned off in the 90s. I'd love to see this restored and maintained so that everyone can enjoy it like we did back in the day," he said.

Robert Moreland, son of Sam Moreland, added, "It is tremendous news for my family and for all the families of those who worked at the factory that once again the England's Glory sign will light up again. Indeed, it will remind us all of a significant company in the history of Gloucester."

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