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1593
When Peter Pain advertised his ‘shining gunpowder’ for sale in 1688, he was continuing a family business that dated back in the records to an Edmund Pain in 1593 and even further back to a John Pain.
1605
Given that only two gunpowder manufacturers operated in the UK at the time, and that Pains Fireworks was based in London, Pains Fireworks is widely recognised as the primary supplier of the gunpowder used in the Gunpowder Plot.
1800
Pains Fireworks moved fully into firework production and displays, marking the end of its gunpowder manufacturing.
1879
In 1879, the firm staged a huge pyrotechnic spectacular, The Last Days of Pompeii, at Manhattan Beach in New York, firmly establishing itself as a major force in the United States.
1872
The Mitcham factory was constructed as the first legally recognised firework factory in Britain.
1900
By 1900, Pains was believed to be the largest wholesale firework house in the world.
It displayed for the opening of the New York Statue of Liberty, the inauguration of three US Presidents and a host of national events.
1914
During the war years, the company produced military pyrotechnics, such as flares, ship lights and simulators but after a massive increase in sales to coincide with the end of the war, hard times began to bite.
1939
The 1948 London Olympics torch had Pains Wessex involved in developing its fuel system, with Pains Fireworks creating the prototype for the smokeless, portable fuel pack.
1948
1964
In 1964, Pain’s got rid of its old fireworks labels and posters; in 1965, it closed the Mitcham factory and relocated to Salisbury as Pains Wessex.
1965
1970
John Deeker, the then managing director of Pains Wessex, bought out the Pains Fireworks name and a brand new era began.
1981
The fireworks display on the eve of the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer was indeed produced by Pains Fireworks. It was the largest fireworks display Britain had seen in over two centuries.
1983
In 1983, the company moved to their current headquarters in Whiteparish, a small village between Salisbury and Romsey on the Hampshire & Wiltshire border.
1997
Pains proudly opens it's Middle East office based in Dubai. Many displays followed from 'The Faisaliah' Tower opening to the Abu Dhabi New Years display.
2006
Pains delivered a magnificent large-scale display for the Clifton Suspension Bridge’s 150th anniversary in December 2014—a spectacular celebration of Brunel’s engineering marvel that drew huge crowds and saw fireworks illuminate the bridge.
2007
Pains won gold at the Montreal International Fireworks Competition, earning the title of “Best in the World.”
2012
The official London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic victory parade took place in September 2012, with its grand finale occurring outside Buckingham Palace.
2022
As the SFX industry continues to grow, Pains Fireworks announces the launch of its sister company, PAINS SFX.
2025
Pains SFX wins the Ed Sheeran World Tour and takes another step into the SFX touring industry.
2022
Pains acquired Dynamite FX, marking its expansion into the special effects (SFX) industry.
A legacy spanning over 400 years
Pains fireworks become the first UK-based firework company to achieve official carbon-neutral business status.
Present
HISTORY
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