Hurns
Alfred Hurn's (born Pentryfach, Merthyr in 1837, died Swansea 1903)
was based in Northampton Lane, Swansea. Hurn's used an unusual trademark
of a Gladstone bag, Nothampton Place was known in Victorian times as the
Harley Street of Swansea due to the large number of Doctors living and
practising from there, no doubt with his premises on Northampton Place,
Hurn's sought to capitilise on his factories location with so many Doctors
around.
The earliest entry I can find for A. Hurn is in a Swansea Directory of 1887 which lists an A. Hurn as being the Publican of the New Recruit Inn at 37 Orchard St, J. Betts also seems to have been a publican of at least two public houses in Swansea and since both names are unusual I suspect they started in the pub trade and then expanded.
One of the largest Swansea companies which is still in operation today, although it no longer produces soft drinks under its own name. E. McDonald took over as proprietor in the early part of the century, before Hurns was again taken over by the Parry Bros.
A Trade Directory of 1907 lists D.E Macdonald in Northampton lane, and a B. MacDonald of Cradock St. as Mineral Water Manufacturers, perhaps B. MacDonald run a second shop retailing Hurns's products. Many of Hurn's glass bottles have the date 1894 so the firm was trading well before he advertised in any Trade Directory.
Another Directory lists a "Robert Hurns Mineral Water Works, 22 Waunwen Terrace" Robert Hurn was Alfreds second son born in 1879. Perhaps his father sold the business to E. MacDonald and Robert then started his own business, but I have never seen a bottle with Robert Hurns name on it.
Eleven transfer printed versions.
Ten standard versions;
Two plain all white standards, Non Pictorial
Seven all white standards with a Gladstone bag pictorial.
One two tone brown top standard. Non pictorial
Two champagne brown top versions. One with a Gladstone bag and one non
pictorial.
All standards, except one had a cork stopper while both champagnes are internal screw. All had a shield shape transfer.
I am very interested in buying the Two tone standard version without a gladsone bag if you have one for sale please use the link below to contact me.
Bottle 8 is from the SMcD collection, whilst bottles six and seven appear almost identical there is a transfer variation just below the words "Swansea" and "E. MacDonald" though my pictures don't show it too well.
List of adverts placed in Trade Directories and the year placed.
Hurn, A. Northampton Lane, Wrights, (Swansea Dir. 1899)
Hurn, A. Northampton Lane, (Wales Dir 1901)
Hurn, A. Northampton Lane, (Wales Dir.1903)
Hurn, A. Northampton Lane, (South Wales Dir. 190)7
MacDonalds, B. Cradock St.( South Wales Dir. 1907)
MacDonald, D. E. Northampton Lane, (South Wales Dir. 1907)
Hurn, Robert, Mineral Water Works, 22 Waunwen Terrace. (Purriers Directory
1908-09)
MacDonald, D. E. Northampton Lane,( Wales Dir. 1912)
Norwich and Brighton Ginger Beers