SWANSEA BOTTLES

Introduction

Hansards

Henry, William and James Hansard, Established in 1871

Henry Hansards was born in Canada in 1821, in the 1871 Census Henry Hansards is listed as an accountant living with his wife and eleven children at 20 George Street, Merthyr Tydfil. His sons Henry William Hansard (born 1845 Merthyr Tydfil) and James Hansards (born1847 Merthyr Tydfil) are also listed as accountants.
In the 1881 census Henry William was in Swansea, living at 9 Underhill St. He is listed as an "Aerated Water Manufacturer" with his brother Thomas E. Hansard as "Assistant to Head"
James Hansards in 1881 was operating the Aerated Water business in Llanelly living at 25 New Place, Llanelly.
In the 1891 census Henry William Hansard had moved home to 71 Glanmor House, Swansea and his brother Charles Edward (born Merthyr 1863) was also helping in the business.
James Hansard had also moved home address in 1891 to 80 New Road, Llanelly.
In the 1901 Census Henry William is still listed as a Aerated Water Manufacturer as is James in Llanelli. Sometime before 1901 another son of Henry Hansard, Charles Edward who had learned his trade with his brother in Swansea had set up in business in Cowbridge near Bridgend.
George F. Hansard (born 1858 Merthyr Tydfil) had taken over the Swansea business sometime between 1903 and 1907

Dig in most Swansea tips dating between 1880 and 1900 and a high proportion of the mineral water bottles you get will be from the firm of Hansards. Large quantities of the firm's bullet stoppers are found indicating this firm had a very high turnover, probably due to the large amount of advertising they seemed to have done.

Hansards were listed in a Trade Directory of the 1880s as being based at 4 Wassail Street, Whilst a Trade Directory of 1907 lists them at 6 Wassail Street.

Hansards seems to have boomed between 1880 and 1904 when an advert placed in the Western Mail on 30/04/1904 offered H,W&J Hansards of Gorse Lane as a going concern. In a 1907 Trade Directory Hansards are listed as G, F & A Hansards, Francis Street, Swansea,( George born Merthyr 1858 and Arthur Born Merthyr 1870 are all listed as Mineral Water Manufacturers of Merthyr in the 1901 census)After being sold the companies time seems to have been limited and the company seems to have finished about 1908.

In 1907 Jack Hansard was the manager of The Reliable Mineeral Water Co. and states on his receipts late Hansard, go to the Reliable page for more information.

Hansards was dominant in Swansea and Llanelly, it also had branches in Bridgend, Carmarthen, Llandile, Neath and Merthyr, although the Merthyr bottle doesn't contain the Swansea address.

Eight all white standard shape ginger beers, all with cork stopper

Three champagne shape two tone ginger beers with brown tops, two are cork, one internal screw. All contained "Hop Bitters"

Advert 1899

The two bottles next to the advert above and the last two bottles are part of the SMcD collection

Hansards advert 1881Hansards advert 1887

Hansards advert 1887

List of adverts placed in Trade Directories and the year placed.

Hansard, Henry, William & James, soda water mnfcs, Wassail St, (Mercer & Crocker 1876)
Hansard, William H. Wassail St. (Slater's 1880)
Hansard, H. W. & J. Wassail Place, (Wilson's 1885)
Hansard, H. W. & J. Wassail Place, (Swansea Directory 1887)
Hansard. H. W. & J. Wassail St. (Wrights, Swansea Dir. 1899)
Hansard, H. W. & J. Wassail Sq, Swansea & Llanelly Est. 1871 (Wales Dir 1901)
Hansard, H. W. & J. Wassail Sq, Swansea & Llanelly Est.1871 (Wales Dir. 1903)
Hansard, G. F. & A. Francis St. (South Wales Dir. 1907)
Hansard, G. F. & A. King Edward Rd. (Swansea Dir 1908-9)

Norwich and Brighton Ginger Beers