During WW2, from 1939 onwards the British government advised householders to take ARP precautions at home. Thee sandbags were used to take some of the blast from bombs and people were advised to put them in windows and doorways, not forgetting, entrances to shelters. These differ from standard military sandbags as they are made of a softer material (canvas) and linen lined. Military bags are typically made from hessian. This made them ‘cleaner’ for use in the home hence the labelling on them as “hygienic”. “Hygienic” was a very wartime marketing word, reassuring families that they were buying something suitable for the home, not just a rough army cast-off. Also, shock from blasts would cause hessian (jute) to let off fibres that if inhaled, could aggravate and irritate the respiratory system.

This one here is unused, and well preserved. All lettering is nice and clear with only very minor spotting/ marking on the material. None of the stitching has frayed or been damaged and the outer canvas is overall, in an excellent condition.

We don’t see too many of these sandbags because, not surprisingly, most were used. So it’s rare to see one that’s survived, unused, for this long. Additionally, it’s an interesting piece for any home front collector.