Originally in River
Street from 1901 and then 1911-1915 New Premesis at Old Road, as a side
note, a company was actually incorporated in March 1889 as Company No:
28397; Chippenham Licensed Victuallers' Aerated Water Company Ltd. It was
registered by Waterlow & Sons Ltd. of London-wall, E. C. without
articles of association and with a capital of £1500 in £1 shares,
dissolved 17 January 1893, whether this was connected with the later
company is uncertain but it was long gone before the later company
started. Registered as Company number: 69616; Chippenham Aerated
Water Company Ltd. was incorporated in April 1901, with capital of £1000
in £1 shares. It's first directors were John Morley Lincoln Mills, F. W.
Honniball and H. Daniels. It's remit at the time of formation was to
"carry on the business of hop-merchants, manufacturers and dealers in
non-intoxicating drinks made from hops, mineral and aerated water
manufacturers, hotel and restaurant proprietors, tobacconists, & c."
(Chemist and Druggist, Apr. 6th 1901 p.563.)
Formerly premesis of Stephen Smart at 32b River
Street, moving to a new premises in Old Road and at some point becoming
Henry J. D. Blake & Sons late Chippenham Aerated Water Co. In Kelly's
directory of 1915, after the death of Henry, both Henry J. D. Blake &
Sons (maltsters) AND Chippenham Aerated Water Company are listed in
Old Road. In February to May 1915 Mortimore, the Chippenham coal merchant,
was advertising for a working foreman to take full charge of a small
Mineral Water Factory. Mortimore was possibly in ownership of the premises
at this time or was custodian for he Blake family. It seems probable that
the Blake family took over around 1912. By 1917 the Aerated Water Company
seems to have vanished and according to company records was dissolved
before 1916. The sale of plant and machinery which took place in 1918
blamed the war for the closure of the factory:
From the Wiltshire Times and Trowbridge Advertiser - Saturday 17 August 1918 page4: "OLD ROAD AERATED WATER FACTORY, CHIPPENHAM. Close to the G.W.R. Station. Sale of the WORKING MINERAL WATER PLANT and about 78 DOZEN SYPHONS & CASES, 885 DOZEN CODDS BOTTLES & CASES, 482 DOZEN SODA WATER, DRY GINGER, & STONE BOTTLES & CASES, 85 JARS with TAPS, MINERAL WATER REQUISITES AND MATERIALS, WELL-MADE TROLLEY WAGGON & CRANK-AXLE CART, THREE SETS DRAY HARNESS, MACHINERY AND PLANT, including Gas Generating Plant and Pressure Filling Machine for Bottles and Syphons, both by Tyler & Co., London; Syphon Filling Machine by Meadowcroft & Co., Blackburn; Bottle Filling Machine by Hinchcliffe, Ltd.; Bottle Corking Machine by Meadowcroft & Co.; 1 h.p. ELECTRIC MOTOR and Switchboard by Edwards & Armstrong, Bristol; Bottle Washer and Tank; 4-Bottle Syphon Filler by Wilcocks, Bath; COPPER with STEAM JACKET and Fittings; Bottle Filler, newly overhauled; quantity of Shafting, Pulleys and Plummer Blocks; Slate Tank with Tap; 4-Partition Slate Syrup Tank with Taps; 4 OAK ROUNDS; Cross-tube VERTICAL STEAM BOILER, by W. Preston & Sons, London; 3 Leather Belts; Portable Boiler. N.B.—The Plant was all in use until the closing of the business, and will be found in good working order. Messrs. Tilley, Parry & Culverwell have been favoured With instructions.from Messrs. Henry J. D. Blake & Sons (late Chippenham Aerated Water Co., Ltd.), to SELL by AUCTION, at the Factory, Old Road, Chippenham (owing to the war, the business having been closed), on WEDNESDAY, the 28th Day of AUGUST, 1918, commencing at 12.30 o’clock, the whole of the STOCK-IN-TRADE, PLANT, MACHINERY, AND EFFECTS. Detailed particulars in catalogues,to be obtained seven days prior to Sale from the Auctioneers, 14, Market Place, Chippenham."
Henry John Darke Blake was born on 27
Jan. 1848 in Castle Coombe, Wilts. and baptised in Biddestone on 22 July
1906. He was a farmer and maltster at Manor Farm. He married Lucy Jane
Prior in 1881 and had at least 4 children. Esther Jane Blake, b. 1881;
Henry Prior Blake, b. 23 May 1882; William Blake, b. 18 June 1883 and
Walter John Blake, b. 3 June 1884. Henry J. D. Blake died on 24th July
1906 shortly after his baptism. After his death his sons ran the company,
William representing the firm at the Bath Licenced Victualler's
Association's diamond jubilee dinner at Fortt's restaurant in Milsom
Street, Bath (reported on 2 March 1912).
In the directories for 1903 and 1907, whilst still at
River Street, Frederick William Honiball was secretary of the
company. 1901-1911 he was also a clerk at the condensed milk factory in
the centre of town. Born in Chippenham in 1873 he was a resident of
Langley Burrell during his sojourn as secretary. Frederick married Mary
Margaret Harding in Preston in 1917. He died at Prospect Lodge, Corsham on
31st July 1928.
John Morley Lincoln Mills, born in Chippenham
in 1874, was also a clerk at the condensed milk factory at the aerated
water company's inception, later becoming an accountant by 1911. The
eldest of the trio of directors was Henry Daniels, born in
Chippenham in 1861, who in 1901 was overseer of the cream department at
the condensed milk factory.
After the new premises was built in 1911 Bernard
Francis Taylor (b.1888) was secretary of the company. Curiously he
was also a clerk at the condensed milk factory and resident in Langley
Burrell.
| |
| 10 oz and split size Codd Bottles |    |
| CHIPPENHAM
/ AERATED / WATER CO LTD. (in oval) 1023 on base of large type,1020 on small with "LTD". No glass maker name on some versions with "LTD" missing. On image 3, the 10oz on left with "LTD" has South Wales Glass Co. Ltd / makers / Newport on reverse. Approx 8.8" and 7.75" high. |
| 10 oz & split size Codd Bottles |   |
| CHIPPENHAM/AERATED/WATER
CO. LTD. (in circle) Glass makers C B & CO, N on 10 oz, Borron Newton on 6oz. 9" and 7.75" high. C B = Charles Borron & Co. Newton glassworks. |
| Ginger Beer Bottle |  |
| CHIPPENHAM AERATED WATER
CO. LD.(in circle): HOME BREWED (in centre.) Internal screw
stopper. Either no potters mark or Skey, Tamwoth on some. 6.9" high. |
| Ginger Beer Bottle |   |
| CHIPPENHAM
/ AERATED / WATER Co. LTD / BREWED / GINGER BEER. GALTEE MORE / PATENT No. 4179 (Stopper with pin in side of lip through small hole) Potter: Price, Bristol. 6.9" high. |
| 1 & 2 Gallon Stone Jars with Taps |   |
| CHIPPENHAM
/ AERATED WATER / COMPANY LD. (printed on front of jar),
wooden threaded tap Potters: Price Powell & Co. Bristol |
| Blob Top Mineral Bottle |  |
| Embossed vertically:
CHIPPENHAM / AERATED WATER / COMPANY LTD. Makers: N ? likely Charles Borron Dark green glass. |
| 10oz Codd Bottle |  |
| Embossed: HENRY J D BLAKE
& SONS / LATE /
CHIPPENHAM / AERATED WATER CO LD Makers:Powell / Bristol. |
| 2 Gallon Stone Jar (Straight sided) |  |
| Impressed: HENRY J D
BLAKE & SONS / LATE / CHIPPENHAM/AERATED WATER CO LTD. Potter: Likely to be Price / Bristol. |