Hurns
Alfred Hurn's (born Bristol 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.
On John Betts's death in 1876, Alfred Herne was promoted to the Manager of Betts, Cambrian Mineral Water Works, where he had been the superintendent for over twenty years, this must be Alfred Hurns. The earliest Directory entry I can find for A. Hurn is in a Swansea Directory of 1887 and a Directory of 1891, which lists an A. Hurn as being the Publican of the New Recruit Inn at 37 Orchard St, in 1895 Hurns was the also the landlord of the Plough Inn, 16 Gower Street, (now renamed the Kingsway). J. Betts also seems to have been a publican of at least two public houses in Swansea, he also had interests in the Recruiting Arms through his son-in-law in the 1870s, and since both names are unusual I suspect they started in the pub trade and then expanded.
Betts was taken over by Watkins in about 1894, the same time as Hurns started his own company, Hurns must have been replaced by the trustees of Betts, or decided to start his own company and left the group without a proprietor.
On Alfred Hurns death in 1903 Emily 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 change of who run Hurn's took place a Trade Directory lists Hurn's as, Hurns Mineral Water Works, Northampton Lane, Swansea and at Alexandra Road, Neath, Propr. S. MacDonald Tel. 212
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.
In 1938 Hurn's was still operating listed as, Hurns Mineral Water Works, Back of 47, King Edwards Rd
Parry Brothers who were the last of the proprietors had other interests, they dealt in coal as a main concern, shown below the bottles is a trade card of theirs.
One of the largest Swansea companies which is still in operation today, although it no longer produces soft drinks under its own name.
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 internal screw standard version Parry Bros. version (bottle 9), if you have one for sale please use the link below to contact me.
Bottles 8 and 9 are 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)
Hurns Mineral Water Works, Northampton Lane, Swansea and at Alexandra
Road, Neath, Propr. S. MacDonald Tel. 212 (1910-12)
MacDonald, D. E. Northampton Lane,( Wales Dir. 1912)
MacDonald, D. 4 Nelson Terrace (Kelly's Dir. 1914)
Hurns Mineral Water Works, Back of 47, King Edwards Rd, (Kelly's Dir.
1938)
Norwich and Brighton Ginger Beers