Those who collect bottles are often drawn to their age, the colours, and the beauty of the bottles, Bottles are also relatively inexpensive, can be found at car boot sales, or even dug ifrom out of the ground, They don’t degrade over time, and don’t take up much space. They’re also a collectible window into local history and of how ordinary Torquay folk lived.
Here’s a few Torquay examples.
In 1898 Henry Swayne of Swayne & Co. Ltd ran Ellacombe Brewery in Ellacombe Church Road. Their office was initially at 58 Fleet Street, and from 1910 at 29a Union Street. Swayne’s Ellacombe Brewery was acquired by Plymouth Breweries in 1928.
In 1871 John Greenslade of Greenslade Brothers, St Mary Church Brewery was operating from Fore Street. It sems like they acquired the Palk Arms brewery of the Mortimer Brothers. The brewery was acquired by Plymouth Breweries in 1925 and brewing ceased in 1927.
Established in 1832, ES Shapley & Sons went through a variety of trading names as one of the leading grocery firms in Torquay. Their shops on the Strand and in Lucius Street were supported by a warehouse in Swan Street. By the 1930s another branch shop was operating in Walnut Road, but by 1960 the business had closed.
Here’s another soft drinks bottle from bakers and confectioners Mountford of 304 Union Street. That shop is now Geno’s.
Mineral water manufacturers Frank Hepper of Upton Vale sold their product from Tor Hill Road.
Thanks for the bottles and the information go to Lee and Denise whose shop in Torquay’s Indoor Market specialises in antique bottles and other glassware:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555021514134
‘Torquay: A Social History’ by local author Kevin Dixon is available for £10 from Artizan Gallery, Lucius Street, Torquay, or:
https://www.art-hub.co.uk/product-page/torquay-a-social-history-by-kevin-dixon
