Picken Papers Advertising Stamp

Picken Papers 

This advertising stamp was found recently in the Picken Papers ( NHS01616) in one of his scrap books

Advertising Stamp for Colliers in Virginia

In 1873, Picken glued this advertisement into his scrap book and wrote :

 “Given by Mr Aston, grocer who succeeded T Collier in the shop called ‘The Lower Bar’. Stamp used by the present T Collier’s grandfather probably 150 years old.”   He also noted that “BB” means “Best Broseley”

 The image shows fanciful slaves  or native American Indians with grass skirts and pipes . They are standing on tobacco barrels.  Beside the barrels and on their lids, there are tobacco rolls.

In the 17th and early 18th century,  the leaves were rolled, then spun into rope, which was wound into balls weighing as much as a hundred pounds . These balls were protected in canvas or barrels for the journey to Britain.

A Tobacco Roll Sign in London

Thomas Collier is listed in an 1828 trade directory as a druggist, grocer, ironmonger and nail manufacturer. Quite a mixture of trades!  His business was taken over in 1835 by Jones and Aston and he died in 1850.

On the 1851 census, which has been transcribed by our member Geoff Culshaw and is available for members to use,  we see that Mr Jones and Mr Aston lived next to each other (respectively  1 and 3 Lower Bar). They are both described as ‘ Grocer and ironmonger’, although  Mr  Jones says that he employs 3 grocers and 10 blacksmiths. Mr Aston had no employees, so perhaps Mr Aston was a sleeping partner.

Upper Bar 1851

The image above shows Vernon’s ‘Canister’ store; see the canister above the door.  This is two doors away from Jones and Aston ( 1 Lower Bar). The Canister, today, is James Dalloway hairdresser.  Jones and Aston’s became Hogben’s garage in the mid 20th century and is now ‘Home Essentials’.

King Charles III Commemoration Tree Planting

On Monday 8th May, the Coronation Bank Holiday, members of various Newport organisations met in Victoria Park to plant fruit trees as part of a commemorative orchard celebrating the Coronation of King Charles III.  These trees are to represent the ecological values of the King and provide free fruit to the residents of Newport.  Members of NDHS met to plant our tree, which is an Apple tree still emblazoned with blossom, on a wet day, but missing the rain during the Ceremony.  The event was organised by Newport Town Council and presided over by the Deputy Mayor.  We were also honoured by the attendance of the Mr Anthony Morris-Eyton, Deputy Lieutenant of Shropshire.  The RDHS tree is clearly marked in the new orchard, so please take time to have a look when you are next passing.

Members of the NDHS with Mr Anthony Morris-Eyton after planting our tree.

Eddowes’s Shrewsbury Journal 1858

Here is a snippet from the Eddowes’s Shrewsbury Journal in 1858 that relates to events in Newport in those times:

Charge of Assault – Thos Marsh, junior, was charged by Geo Brian, a vendor of oranges, with having assaulted him on Wednesday evening, the 7th inst., at Chetwynd End. Prosecutor stated there was a dance in a tent, in a field at the back of the King’s Head Inn. He paid 3d for his ticket for admittance. When he was selling some oranges to a person, defendant came to him and told him that he must go out, and threw his money into his basket, and then dragged him out. He again got admittance, and the defendant a second time threw him out, and tore his clothes. Defendant stated this upset some of the dancers and some parties came to him and complained of plaintiff being allowed to be in the tent, as he was not considered to be of proper character. He then went to him, and told him he must go out. He refused to do so with oaths and curses, whereupon he gave him his money and put him out. He afterwards was allowed to fetch some money out from one of the customers and would no go out again. He again put him out. Case dismissed.

 

Eddowes’s Journal, and General Advertiser for Shropshire, and the Principality of Wales was a weekly newspaper published on Wednesdays. In its later issues, the title is printed as Eddowes’s Shrewsbury Journal and Salop, Stafford, Worcester, Hereford, Radnor, Brecon, North and Mid Wales and Cheshire County.

The newspaper was conservative in its politics. It began as a four-page paper and grew to between eight and ten pages. An issue in 1890 cost twopence.

 

Benchmark Newport Walk

This Benchmark walk of Newport has been created by Anthony Rowley as a blog with a very useful summary of the history of Newport.  On this blog, he provides a quick walking tour with historical references and pointers on where to get more information.  Additionally, he uses historical photos to illustrate the townscape and key points of interest.  This is part of a series of blogs covering Telford and surrounding areas.  Recommended if you want a potted oversight of Newport.

The blog can be found through this link: https://rowleyanth.wordpress.com/2023/01/21/newport-benchmark-walk/

 

Newport High Street in 1838 by Henry Ziegler

We have Caroline Davies of Davies, White & Perry to thank for preserving a wonderful watercolour of Newport High Street painted in 1838. It is fortunate that, not long after the painting was completed, a local person identified several of the characters and trades shown. The view is looking northwards towards the church.

 

The painting is by Henry Bryan Ziegler (1798–1874). He was a British artist, known as a landscape and portrait painter. He studied under John Varley, honed his skills at the Royal Academy schools, and eventually became a Royal Academician. He made a reputation as drawing master to members of the royal family; Queen Adelaide took him under her wing, and his views of Windsor castle are in The Royal Collections. Having relatives in Ludlow, he did several illustrations of Ludlow Castle and Shropshire towns.

Let us look at some of the details:

In the background you can see St Nicholas’ church, in front of it a small classical type of building – the butter market, commonly called ‘The Butter Cross’, and to the right of this the old William Adam’s town hall. Both the Butter Cross and the old town hall were demolished c.1858-60, when the new town hall was built.

On the left we can see the post office. The postmaster is identified as Mr Henry P Silvester, and he is shown at his front door. In front of the post office is the mail cart. This building eventually became printers Bennion & Horne/ The Advertiser, then Browns Motors. The next property is the Old Bell Inn.

 

To the right are Mr & Mrs Hughes, carriers, who we are told put up their donkey cart at the Star Inn; now Barbers estate agents. Their donkeys were called Molly and Ned.

The next feature to the right is what is described as ‘the Aqualate Chariot’. Here we see members of the Boughey family coming into town. It is likely that pictured are Thomas Fenton Fletcher Boughey and his wife Louisa (nee Giffard).

In the centre we have the town crier or ‘bellman’. He is identified as Mr Simpson. William Picken, a local Victorian antiquarian, described his uniform: the blue frock coat and the arms of the town (three fishes) embossed on a brass plate fastened on the right sleeve, a scarlet waistcoat, black velvet breeches, drab cloth leggings, and a black silk hat with a gold band round it. Next to Mr Simpson is a Mr Hutchinson. Behind Mr Simpson, sitting, is Mr Patrick identified as ‘a noted gingerbread manufacturer’ with his stall of sweetmeats

 

The ‘letter carriers ‘- the posties of their day- are shown bottom left. It is interesting to see that there were both male and female posties.

 

Here you can compare the west side of the street with Then and Now images. From the left :

 

 

 

 

 

 

Part of The Old Bell Inn – you can still see today the bell shapes on the dormer windows.

 Then No 27-31 All were demolished in 1845 to make way for a terrace of three properties Now Clarks and Nationwide.

Then a two bay property – Now Head Quarters.

Then a four bay property – Now Evenett & Bishop and Newport Pizza.

Then a two bay property – Now Happy Smiles and  The Glasshouse.

Beyond this, the old Crown Inn – now Davies, White and Perry. The red animal on a portico  or pole standing out further along, marks the Red Lion Inn, which eventually became Barclays Bank; even today it still has the large inn yard at the back.