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I just watched the episode "The Mysterious Feet of Nora Batty" and Compo sprinkled something from a shaker at a table in Ivy's cafe into the matchbox. At first I thought it was salt, but I think there was a different salt and pepper shaker set on the table. There was also a sugar pourer on the table, so I don't think it was that either.

"Compo's matchbox" is on display in the "Last of the Summer Wine" exhibition in Holmfirth. It is in a display case, open just a bit - but not enough to be able to see what is in it!
But according to Bill Owen's son that is not the real one - which was buried with Bill. There's quite a little mythology built around it now as the few people (who are still alive)to have seen inside it all make a big thing of saying how they have been sworn to secrecy over the contents.
It could have been an earwig or a spider but in one of the early series of the show I'm sure I can remember him feeding whatever was in the matchbox with a piece of lettuce!
Another popular suggestion is that in real life the box merely has the cue "Scream" written inside it. Who knows?

Sparks Moran: "It was dusk. I could tell 'cause the sun had gone down"

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I often wonder what was in that box. I have watched about every episode and I have never seen what was in that little box. by the way, its the best show I have ever seen. when it comes on the music buts me in a peaceful place and wish I was there.

Probably a picture of Jimmy Savile
You might very well think that. But I couldn't possibly comment

It was probably a picture of Nora Batty

Me thinks. It was a earwig