Victory V

Last updated
Victory V
Victory V.jpg
A packet and a roll of lozenges
Type Lozenge
Place of origin United Kingdom
Region or state Nelson, Lancashire
Created byThomas Fryer & Edward Smith
Invented1864
A Victory V sweet, "Forged For Strength" V for Victory sweet.jpg
A Victory V sweet, "Forged For Strength"

Victory V is a British brand of liquorice-flavoured lozenges. [1] Originally manufactured in Nelson, Lancashire, they were devised by Thomas Fryer and Edward Smith MD in 1864 [1] and were initially made by hand to ensure that each sweet contained the correct amount of therapeutic ingredients: ether, liquorice and chlorodyne (a patent medicine containing laudanum, cannabis and chloroform).

In 1959, a film was produced by Red Rose Films called The Story of Victory-V, documenting the production of Victory V lozenges and other products of the Nelson Victory V factory. [2]

In the 1960s they acquired the Alverthorpe firm of A.Talbot and Son. Victory V lozenges are available in specialist shops and online, but no longer contain chloroform or ether. However, their scent and flavour is still vividly reminiscent of diethyl ether – recreated via artificial means to preserve the original flavour. [3] Today they are manufactured by Ernest Jackson & Co. Ltd. in Crediton, Devon.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Sean O'Grady (14 March 2009). "Minor British Institutions: Victory V lozenges" . The Independent, London. Archived from the original on 2022-08-17.
  2. Manchester Metropolitan University (2010). "North West Film Archive". Manchester Metropolitan University. Retrieved August 31, 2012.[ permanent dead link ]
  3. "Ernest Jackson brands: Victory V". www.ejackson.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2022-07-03. Retrieved 2023-02-22.