Ordinary Items That Were Once Illegal in Britain

Some of the most unremarkable objects we take for granted today were once considered too dangerous, disruptive, or downright immoral to be legal in Britain. From umbrellas to playing cards, the rules around what you could own or use have shifted dramatically across the centuries, and not always in ways that make sense now.

Here are some surprisingly ordinary things that were, at one point, banned or heavily restricted in British history.

Umbrellas

When umbrellas first appeared on the streets of Britain in the mid-18th century, they were mocked, resisted, and even attacked, especially by cab drivers. Using an umbrella was seen as a threat to the income of coachmen who profited from driving people through the rain. In fact, men who used umbrellas were often jeered at or had things thrown at them.

Though umbrellas weren’t strictly illegal, there were social pressures and occasional local bans on their use in public areas. Jonas Hanway, a philanthropist and traveller, was among the first men to carry one regularly in London, and was reportedly pelted with rubbish for his trouble.

Playing cards (on the wrong day)

Playing cards were hugely popular in Britain by the 15th century, but Parliament wasn’t impressed. During the reign of Henry VII, a law was passed banning commoners from playing cards and dice games during the week, especially in winter. Why? Because they were supposed to be practising archery instead.

The fear was that leisure activities would distract from England’s military preparedness. Sunday was eventually allowed for games, as long as you didn’t gamble. Even centuries later, laws persisted that discouraged or banned gambling games among the lower classes.

Tartan

After the Jacobite uprising of 1745, the British government cracked down hard on Highland culture. One of the most symbolic bans was on tartan. The Dress Act of 1746 made it illegal for anyone outside military regiments to wear Highland dress, including kilts and tartan.

The law was part of a wider attempt to break down clan identity and prevent further rebellion. The ban remained in place for nearly 40 years and wasn’t lifted until 1782. Today, tartan is a celebrated part of Scottish heritage, but once, it was a crime to wear it.

Football

Medieval football was violent, chaotic, and utterly unrecognisable from today’s game. Matches could involve entire villages, go on for hours, and often ended in property damage or injuries. Unsurprisingly, kings weren’t fans.

Edward II banned football in 1314, calling it a “great noise in the city” and a disturbance to the peace. The ban was repeated by multiple monarchs over the next two centuries. It wasn’t until the 1600s that football began its slow evolution into something closer to an organised sport.

Books and pamphlets

Britain has a long history of censorship, and that included books that challenged religious or political norms. During the 17th and 18th centuries, authors risked imprisonment for publishing anything seen as seditious or blasphemous.

Plays and pamphlets were routinely banned, and printers were sometimes raided or jailed. Even famous writers like John Milton and Daniel Defoe ran into trouble for their work. The Licensing Act of 1662 gave the government sweeping powers to control printing, though public appetite for “forbidden” books never really went away.

Coffeehouses

In the late 1600s, coffeehouses were popping up all over London, and not everyone was happy about it. King Charles II tried to ban them in 1675, claiming they were centres of gossip, sedition, and political unrest.

Men would gather in coffeehouses to read newspapers, debate the news, and criticise the monarchy. Though the ban was swiftly withdrawn after public backlash, it showed just how powerful, and threatening, a cup of coffee and a chat could be.

Catholic items

After the English Reformation and the break from the Catholic Church, Catholicism was suppressed for centuries. That meant it wasn’t just illegal to attend a Catholic mass—owning Catholic objects like rosaries, priestly vestments, or even certain books could land you in serious trouble.

Anti-Catholic laws were particularly strict during Elizabeth I’s reign and into the 17th century. Recusants—those who refused to attend Anglican services—faced fines, imprisonment, and property seizures. It wasn’t until the 19th century that many of these restrictions were lifted.

Wigs and powder (in France… but with British links)

While not banned in Britain directly, the French Revolution saw wigs and powder become illegal symbols of the aristocracy, and this had ripple effects in Britain. During the 1790s, powdered wigs went out of fashion rapidly, and many British aristocrats abandoned them to avoid association with their French counterparts.

Though not illegal in law, powdered hair became so politically fraught that wearing it was viewed with suspicion. By the early 1800s, Parliament had introduced a hair powder tax, further pushing it into decline.

Newspapers

For much of the 18th and early 19th centuries, newspapers were subject to heavy taxation under the so-called “taxes on knowledge.” Stamp duties and advertising taxes were imposed to make newspapers prohibitively expensive for the working class, effectively restricting access to information.

While not illegal outright, the result was the same: censorship through pricing. Radical publishers who attempted to get around these laws were often fined, imprisoned, or shut down. It wasn’t until the mid-19th century that many of these taxes were repealed, opening the door to more accessible press.

Public meetings

At several points in British history, gathering in public to discuss politics or protest government action was considered a threat to order. The Seditious Meetings Act of 1795, for instance, banned gatherings of more than 50 people without prior permission. It was aimed squarely at curbing reformist and revolutionary sentiment in the wake of events in France.

Similar laws popped up again in the early 19th century, particularly after the Peterloo Massacre in 1819. While not a ban on an object, the idea that people could be arrested for simply talking politics in a group puts today’s rights in perspective.

It’s easy to forget that the legal status of everyday things hasn’t always been straightforward. Umbrellas, coffee, cards, and clothing might seem harmless now, but in their time, they sparked controversy, fear, and in some cases, actual bans. The next time you open a book, sip a coffee, or wear something tartan—just remember that, once upon a time, you might’ve been breaking the law.