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An aerial view of Leeds Kirkgate Market showing the aftermath of the fire which broke out on December 13 in 1975. Copyright: Leeds Libraries.

The damaged remains of part of Leeds Kirkgate Market following a fire on December 13 in 1975. Copyright: Leeds Libraries.

View of Leeds Kirkgate Market on December 19 in 1975, six days after a fire destroyed two-thirds of the site. Copyright: Leeds Libraries.

The fragile vintage snacks, more than a century old, were originally issued to servicemen as a durable emergency ration but were reputedly so unpalatable, they were instead repurposed as a humorous way of staying in touch with loved ones over Christmas. Dating from 1914, one of the biscuits currently stored at the Leeds Discovery Centre may have been the final contact Private William Maxwell had with his family before his tragic death.

Curator Kitty Ross with Private Maxwell's festive message at Leeds Discovery Centre. The fragile vintage snacks, more than a century old, were originally issued to servicemen as a durable emergency ration but were reputedly so unpalatable, they were instead repurposed as a humorous way of staying in touch with loved ones over Christmas. Dating from 1914, one of the biscuits currently stored at the Leeds Discovery Centre may have been the final contact Private William Maxwell had with his family before his tragic death.

Curator Kitty Ross with Private Maxwell's festive message at Leeds Discovery Centre. The fragile vintage snacks, more than a century old, were originally issued to servicemen as a durable emergency ration but were reputedly so unpalatable, they were instead repurposed as a humorous way of staying in touch with loved ones over Christmas. Dating from 1914, one of the biscuits currently stored at the Leeds Discovery Centre may have been the final contact Private William Maxwell had with his family before his tragic death.

Curator Kitty Ross with the decorated biscuit from 1914, beautifully painted with an image of a battleship and carrying an inscription that reads ‘Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a bright new year’. The fragile vintage snacks, more than a century old, were originally issued to servicemen as a durable emergency ration but were reputedly so unpalatable, they were instead repurposed as a humorous way of staying in touch with loved ones over Christmas.

The decorated biscuit from 1914, beautifully painted with an image of a battleship and carrying an inscription that reads ‘Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a bright new year’. The fragile vintage snacks, more than a century old, were originally issued to servicemen as a durable emergency ration but were reputedly so unpalatable, they were instead repurposed as a humorous way of staying in touch with loved ones over Christmas.

As well as the biscuit messages, other festive objects which have been recently donated to Leeds Museums and Galleries include a late 1960s Cutie doll, gifted to a child whose family was homeless in 1969 as part of the Leeds and District Workpeople’s Hospital Fund’s annual Christmas appeal. Held here by curator Kitty Ross, it still carries the note “To Denise Xmas 1969, from mummy and dad.”

As well as the biscuit messages, other festive objects which have been recently donated to Leeds Museums and Galleries include a late 1960s Cutie doll, gifted to a child whose family was homeless in 1969 as part of the Leeds and District Workpeople’s Hospital Fund’s annual Christmas appeal. Held here by curator Kitty Ross, it still carries the note “To Denise Xmas 1969, from mummy and dad.”

Also part of the collection is a set of Mickey Mouse Christmas tree lights as well as some brightly coloured glass baubles manufactured by Morley’s Briteglass Ltd. The Jay-Tee brand glass Christmas tree decorations were owned by local couple Herbert and Maud Storer who married in 1944.

Also part of the collection is a set of Mickey Mouse Christmas tree lights as well as some brightly coloured glass baubles manufactured by Morley’s Briteglass Ltd. The Jay-Tee brand glass Christmas tree decorations were owned by local couple Herbert and Maud Storer who married in 1944.