Francis Holland was born in Upton, Long Sutton, Somerset early in 1856 to parents James Holland (1831-1903) and Mary Squire (1829-?), he was baptised at Long Sutton on 14th May 1856. In 1879 he got married in Bristol to Ella Cox and by 1879 he had established his fishmongers and poultry business in Chippenham High Street and their first child Herbert John had been born.
Not long after Francis had opened his business, on Weds. 23rd July 1879, he had summoned his neighbour, Albert Townsend, who was also a greengrocer, for using language likely to cause a breach of the peace by insulting Holland's vegetables (he had added greengrocery to his fishmonger business within the past couple of weeks which had obviously deeply upset his neighbour, especially as he could get a better price for his peas). The defendant was bound over for £5 to keep the peace for one month.
In April 1886 Holland began taking out advertisements in the local papers threatening anyone against using his bottles. Unfortunately a few years later Francis himself fell victim to the Mercantile Mark Act (see below).
At the Chippenham Petty Sessions of Thursday 7th Oct 1886, the license of the Three Cups in the Shambles was transferred to Francis Holland from Richard Fry after 56 years occupancy. The Three Cups became the Shambles Hotel. It was announced in the Devizes and Wiltshire Gazette - Thursday 04 November 1886 that the "Three Cups" public house, situated in the Shambles, and occupied for the last 56 years by Mr. Richard Fry, has now changed hands, and the name of the sign is also changed. Henceforth it will be known as the "Shambles Hotel," a name given it by its new proprietor, Mr. F. Holland. This meant that Holland came into possession of Fry's ginger beer manufactory not long after officially taking over Marks' Aerated water business which he did on Lady Day (25th March) 1884. The aerated water premises were actually sold with Holland as tenant on 11th Oct. 1889. Holland held the lease for 21 years until 1905. Francis did not actually keep the Shambles Hotel for long, as it's license was again transferred (Devizes and Wiltshire Gazette - Thursday 09 June 1887) to Joseph Davis of Badminton, a G. Vincent appeared in the directories as Manager. In 1889 the premises were sold to a Mr. Mead of Westbury with Davis as tenant in June 1889 for £1,550. A large part of the Shambles were pulled down around July 1890 by a Mr. Smith but a group of locals including Edgar Neale campaigned to preserve the part built on stone columns which today has been restored, although not in its original position.
Francis died on 3rd July 1934, at New Road, Chippenham. Ella died 25th Apr. 1944.
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| 6 & 10 oz Bulb Neck Codd Bottles |     |
| Front:
THIS BOTTLE IS THE / PROPERTY OF / F. HOLLAND / CHIPPENHAM / AND
BUYING / OR SELLING / THE SAME IS ILLEGAL
Rear: THE / CODD BOTTLE (near shoulder) |
| 6 & 10 oz Codd Bottles |    |
| Front:
THIS BOTTLE / IS THE / PROPERTY OF / F. HOLLAND / CHIPPENHAM.
Rear: THE / NIAGARA / BOTTLE / ALFRED ALEXANDER / MAKERS / LONDON, Height 18.3cm (7.2") and 21.5cm (8.5"). |
| 6oz Bullet Stopper |  |
| FRANCIS HOLLAND / CHIPPENHAM
in circle; AERATED / WATERS with intertwined F & H in centre.
Bratby & Hinchliffe Makers Manchester, Height 17.8cm (7"). |
| 6 & 10oz Bullet Stoppered Bottles |  |
| FRANCIS HOLLANDS /
CHIPPENHAM in circle.
AERATED / WATERS in centre. Powell & Ricketts Makers Bristol around base, Height 18.3cm (7.2") & 22.2cm (8.75)" |
| 10 oz Codd Bottle |  |
| Front: THIS BOTTLE / IS THE
/ PROPERTY OF / F. HOLLAND / CHIPPENHAM.
Powell & Ricketts Makers Bristol, Height 22.2cm (8.75"). Unusual flat base. |
| 6oz Codd Bottle |   |
| Front: THIS BOTTLE / IS THE
/ PROPERTY OF / F. HOLLAND / CHIPPENHAM.
Powell & Ricketts Makers Bristol, Height 19cm (7.5"). Unusual flat base. |
| 6 oz Codd Bottle |  |
| Front: HOLLAND / CHIPPENHAM
Large FH on base, no Makers name, Height 18.5cm (7.3"). |
| 6 oz Codd's Bottles |   |
| Front:
HOLLAND & CO / CHIPPENHAM (in circle.) THIS BOTTLE / IS THE /
PROPERTY OF (in centre.) J. W. Dobson Makers Barnsley, (around base, right); Wm. Barnard & Sons (reverse, left) Height 19cm (7.5"). |
| 10 oz Codd's Bottles |   |
| Front:
HOLLAND & CO / CHIPPENHAM (in circle.) THIS BOTTLE / IS THE /
PROPERTY OF (in centre.) J. W. Dobson Makers Barnsley, (around base, left) Wm. Barnard & Sons, London (reverse, right) Height 22.9cm (9"). |
| Half Pint Beer Bottles |  |
Internal Screw Stoppers.
Dark Green.
|
| Half Pint Beer Bottle |  |
| Front: HOLLAND & CO /
CHIPPENHAM in circle.
THIS BOTTLE / IS THE / PROPERTY OF in centre. Internal Screw Stopper.- J. W. Dobson Makers Barnsley, Height 21.1cm (8.3"). |
| Stone Ginger Beer Bottle |  |
| Honey Glaze.
Printed: THIS BOTTLE BELONGS / TO / HOLLAND & CO. / CHIPPENHAM / HOME / BREWED / GINGER BEER. Cork Stopper. Potter: Priest Canton Cardiff, Height 17.1cm (6.75"). |
| Stone Ginger Beer Bottle |  |
| Honey Glaze.
Printed: THIS BOTTLE BELONGS / TO / HOLLAND & CO. / CHIPPENHAM / HOME BREWED / GINGER BEER. Cork Stopper. Potter: Priest Canton Cardiff, Height 17.1cm (6.75"). |
| Stone Ginger Beer Bottle |  |
| Honey Glaze.
Printed: THIS BOTTLE BELONGS / TO / HOLLAND & CO. / CHIPPENHAM / HOME / BREWED / GINGER BEER. Internal Screw Stopper. Potter: Priest Canton Cardiff, Height 17.1cm (6.75"). |
| Stone Ginger Beer Bottle |  |
| Honey Glaze.
Printed: THIS BOTTLE BELONGS / TO / HOLLAND & CO. / CHIPPENHAM / HOME BREWED / GINGER BEER. Cork Stopper. Potter: Price 0 Bristol, Height 17.1cm (6.75"). |
| Stone Ginger Beer Bottle |  |
| Honey Glaze.
Printed: THIS BOTTLE BELONGS / TO / HOLLAND & CO. / CHIPPENHAM / HOME BREWED / GINGER BEER. Cork Stopper. Potter: Price 9 Bristol, Height 17.1cm (6.75"). |
| Stone Ginger Beer Bottle |  |
| Honey Glaze.
Printed: THIS BOTTLE BELONGS / TO / F. HOLLAND / CHIPPENHAM / HOME BREWED / GINGER BEER. Cork Stopper. Potter: Price 13 Bristol, Height Height 17.1cm (6.75"). |
| 6oz & 10oz Bulb Neck Codd Bottles |    |
| Front:
THIS BOTTLE IS THE / PROPERTY OF / F. HOLLAND / CHIPPENHAM / AND
BUYING / OR SELLING / THE SAME IS ILLEGAL
Rear: DAN RYLANDS / MAKERS / BARNSLEY. Height 18.5cm (7.3"), & ?. Photo right courtesy Tony Hughes. |
| 10 oz 4-way Chapmans Patent Bottle |    |
| Front:
FRANCIS HOLLAND / CHIPPENHAM
Rear: CHAPMAN & SON / PATENT / BALL / STOPPER / BIRKENHEAD, Large FH on base,
Height 22.4cm (8.8"). No glassmaker mark. |
| 6 & 10 oz Patent Safe Groove Codd Bottles |  |
| Front: THIS BOTTLE IS THE /
PROPERTY OF / F. HOLLAND / CHIPPENHAM.
Rear: PATENT SAFE GROOVE / 4 / SOLE MAKERS / DAN RYLANDS LD / BARNSLEY. Height: 18.5cm (7.3") & 22.9cm (9"). |
| 6 & 10 oz Reliance Patent Codd Bottles |   |
| Front:
THIS BOTTLE IS THE / PROPERTY OF / F. HOLLAND / CHIPPENHAM.
Rear: RELIANCE PATENT / (4 on large only)/ SOLE MAKERS / DAN RYLANDS (LD on large only) / BARNSLEY. "TRADE MARK" around neck grooves. Height: 19.7cm (7.75") & 22.2cm (8.75"). |
| 6oz Reliance Patent Codd Bottle |  |
| Front: F. HOLLAND /
CHIPPENHAM.
Rear: RELIANCE PATENT / SOLE MAKER / DAN RYLANDS / BARNSLEY. "TRADE MARK" around neck grooves. Height: 19.7cm (7.75"). |
| 1 Gallon Stone Jar |    |
| Printed:
HOLLAND & Co. / CHIPPENHAM Nos: 242 & 234 Potter: Priest Canton Cardiff. |