Glassworks: Redfearn Brothers, Bottle Makers, Barnsley.
Mark Ball was born at Yarnfield, Maiden Bradley, Wiltshire, in 1861, son of Thomas Ball, a farm labourer of that village and Mary Ann Edwards of Kilmington, Somerset who he had married there on 3rd July 1851, the couple had 2 sons and 3 daughters before Mark was born, and 3 more daughters followed after. In the late 1860s the family moved to Clevedon in Somerset. In 1871 Mark was an errand boy at home, but he must have trained as a blacksmith soon afterwards, because by 1881 he was a General Smith lodging at Worle, Somerset. He married Ellen, the daughter of George Pinnell of Tytherington, Gloucs., and Elizabeth Hendy, on 1st August 1889 at Westbury-on-Trym Holy Trinity, she was a year his elder. In 1891 Mark was a Blacksmith at Stonely House, West End, Westbury-sub-Mendip near Wells, Somerset. His sister-in-law Fanny Pinnell, a laundress, was listed as a visitor, whilst his wife Ellen was at her widowed mother Elizabeth Pinnell's home at Turnpike Road, Thornbury, Gloucs. Mark and Ellen had moved to 38 Doveton Street, Bedminster by 1897 and the Mineral Water Manufactory traded from their home. In 1900 Mark was looking for a country cottage within 7 miles of Bristol with the intention of commuting. It seems that Mark was a keen shower of horses, and he won a prize at the Hunter's Show, Islington in 1910 for a horse called Royalty II in the hunter's sires class. Later that same month (March) unfortunately there was an accident involving Joseph Griffin of Stanley Street, who was taken to hospital by St. John's Ambulance after having received a kick from a horse in the stables of Ball and Pinnell. He was later able to leave after some attention.
In 1914 Mark Ball was selling a lot of items, including an 8 H. P. Horizontal Steam Engine and a light horse-drawn trolley, and a Jubilee car in June, then in 1915 a Rave Spring Tip Cart for which there was no further use. In 1921 the owner of the premises at 1 & 2 Doveton Street died and the empty buildings were sold privately the following year, they were offered at auction in 1921.
From the Western Daily Press - Thursday 23 June 1921 page1: "The Estate of J. S. WEYMOUTH, Deceased. IMPORTANT FREEHOLD WAREHOUSE PROPERTY. Nos. 1 and 2, DOVETON STREET, BEDMINSTER. CUNNINGHAM & GIBAUD are instructed SELL AUCTION, at the ' HOPE AND ANCHOR INN, REDCLIFF HILL, on WEDNESDAY NEXT. June 29, 1921, at Seven o'clock the evening (subject to Conditions), the substantially-built FREEHOLD WAREHOUSE, with a DWELLING-HOUSE, having inclusive frontage of about 54 feet, narrowing to about 21 feet and depth of abont 88 feet. In addition there are at rear Small Yard and Store. The Buildings part 3 and part 2 Floors in height. The hoist, Shafting, and Pulleys and large Water Tank are included in the Sale. Gas and Water laid on. FREE FROM GROUND RENT. Mines and Minerals Reserved. Further particulars of the Auctioneers, All Saint's House Exchange; or of SIBLY AND CLOUGH, Exchange West, Solicitors.
The Town and Counties directory of 1923-24 have Ball & Pinnell still operating from this address, but, given the above, I consider this highly unlikely.
I have so far been unable to find out what happened to Mark and Ellen but an Ellen Ball died in Bristol in 1913 and this may have been Mark's wife, thus perhaps precipitating the decline of the business.
During WW2 Bedminster
suffered considerably in the blitz of Bristol, and up until the 1970's the
area of Doveton Street was largely derelict waste-land. The site of the
Ball & Pinnell works is now occupied by Windmill
Hill City Farm who have restored the buildings in this street that
remained standing.
| 10oz and 6oz Codd's Bottles | |
| Embossed:
BALL & PINNELL / BRISTOL (in oval) Glassworks: Redfearn Brothers, Bottle Makers, Barnsley. |
| 2 Gallon Stone Jar |  |
| Front Printed: THE
PROPERTY OF / BALL & PINNELL / BEDMINSTER / BRISTOL / RETURN
WHEN EMPTY. Potter: PRICE, POWELL & Co. / 20 / BRISTOL |
| Stoneware Ginger Beer Bottle |    |
| Printed:
(in circle) *BALL & PINNELL* / BEDMINSTER (in
centre) GINGER / BEER / (below, in scroll) BRISTOL Potter: Price Bristol. White Glaze. (Photo left: courtesy Larry, Avon Collectors Club) Photo centre & taller version right courtesy Miles Griffin. |
| 10oz Codd's Bottle |   |
| Embossed:
(front) BALL & PIN-NELL / MINERAL WATER MANUFACTURERS /
BRISTOL (in arch) (back) BUYING OR SELLING / THIS BOTTLE IS / ILLEGAL There is also a version with an amber marble. Glassworks: Redfearn Brothers, Bottle Makers, Barnsley. (R B B on base) |
| Pint Internal Screw Stopper Lemonade Bottle |  |
| Embossed: BALL
& PINNELL / BRISTOL (in oval) Glassworks: On base, J. L. & Co. C. (J. Lumb & Co. Castleford) also number on base 1781. Height 25.4cm. |