Clothing Coupon book front cover

Category

Museums & Galleries Item

Item no

21181

Title

Clothing Coupon book front cover

Description

A ration book for childrens clothing.

Date

1944

Size

13.6 x 9.1 cm

Type

Document

Location

Museum of Edinburgh

Accession number

HH4846/2/89a

In 1940 rationing was introduced across Britain. Many of the country's food supplies came from overseas and as transportation by sea became increasingly hazardous, items were scarce. Butter, sugar and bacon were the first items to be rationed followed by meat, tea, jam, marmalade and cheese. As food became scarce, people had to be very inventive in their cooking, making jam out of carrots, tea from blackberry leaves, and pastry out of potatoes. Sweets, clothes and petrol were also rationed and everyone was issued with a ration card and coupons. However, with less sweets and more vegetables, the diet of many of Edinburgh's children actually improved. School dinners were also introduced at the beginning of the war improving the nutrition of poorer children. Rationing finally ended in 1954.

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