Fawkes gunpowder dealer show

Guy Fawkes and his fellow Roman Catholic plotters were executed

The gunpowder dealers believed to have sold Guy Fawkes the explosives to blow his way into history are unveiling years of artefacts.

Merchant James Pain reportedly sold the plotter gunpowder for his failed 1605 bid to blow up Parliament during its state opening by James I.

Fawkes and his fellow Roman Catholic conspirators were caught and executed - but the Pain family carried on making gunpowder for generations.

In the early 19th Century the family started making fireworks - including those for the Queen's coronation in 1952 - and nowadays the business is Pains Fireworks Ltd.

An exhibition of company papers and artefacts dating back to 1850 opens at Hampshire Record Office this week until 28 November.

The show will tour museums and libraries in Hampshire next year and in 2005.

Council heritage officer John Waddington said: "These type of exhibitions really help to bring the past to life, and we hope that people will take this opportunity to learn about the history of fireworks and the heritage of a local company."

The office houses thousands of other documents, photos and films relating to Hampshire history and local families.