Potter: Powell △ Bristol - 2 tone Bristol glaze.
Sarah Crocker née Bick was born in Slimbridge, Gloucestershire, in 1815, baptised 24 December in Slimbridge, daughter of Thomas Bick (1772-1850) and Constance Brazington (1790-1860). Sarah married widower John Crocker on 9 October 1849 at Westbury upon Trym, Gloucestershire. John was already a licensed victualler in Whiteladies, Cotham at this time.
John Crocker was born in St. Paul's, Bristol in 1822, baptised at St. James on 29 December, son of Abraham, a carpenter, and wife Sarah. John's first marriage was to Hannah Atherton, a widow, and daughter of farmer William Rye. The marriage took place at St. James in Bath on 15 June 1847, and at this date John was a coachman living at 32 Stall Street, Bath. Unfortunately Hannah died suddenly on 2 March 1849 aged 39 "deeply regretted by a large circle of relatives and friends", she was buried at Flax Boughton, Somerset on 30 March 1849.
John and Sarah had two sons, John William Thomas Crocker, born 1850, baptised 6 Oct., and William Charles Crocker, baptised on 31 Oct. 1852, both at Redland Green, Westbury upon Trym. John Crocker, their father, died at the Whiteladies Tavern on 6 September 1880 aged 58.
The White Ladies Tavern was originally at No.3. Hampton Cottages (1861) then No.2. Hampton Place (1871). They premises didn't move although the street was rearranged around it. In 1851 John was a Fly Proprietor (a type of carriage used as a taxi) and Victualler at the White Ladies Tavern. There were livery stables on the premises as early as 1861. The license of the Whiteladies Tavern, Cotham New Road, was transferred from John Crocker to his widow Sarah on Weds. 6 Oct. 1880. From the Western Daily Press - Thursday 9 September 1886 page 3: White Ladies Tavern (Mrs Sarah Crocker). —Mr J. S. Broad appeared for the applicant. The renewal was granted on the understanding that the structural alterations were such as would meet with the approbation of the police. From the Bristol Mercury - Thursday 16 September 1880 page 3: ALTERATION OF PREMISES. Mr. Clifton (Clifton and Carter) said, by the courtesy of the learned members of the bar, he was allowed to make an application to the bench. It was an application for liberty to improve some premises known as the Whiteladies' tavern, Hampton-place, which had long been occupied by Mr. Crocker. Unfortunately, a few days ago Mr. Crocker died, and the business was carried on by his widow, who, with the consent of the bench desired to enlarge the premises. The alterations would be in the cellarage and in certain other parts of the building, and would not in the smallest degree alter the identity of the place. The public accommodation would be increased and the plans had been submitted to Supt. Thatcher, who did not see any objection to them, and thought the alteration would be very desirable indeed, Supt. Thatcher, in reply to the bench, said he did not see any objection to the plans, and the alteration would be a great benefit to the place. The magistrates granted the application.
The Crocker Brothers. When Sarah died on 6 Nov. 1887 at 33 Cotham Hill, she was a Wine and Spirit Merchant, as were her two sons. John was at the same address at the time, and William lived at 6 Melville Road-Hampton Road, Redland. Being Sarah's only sons and executors, they inherited their mother's estate of £2,532 4s. 5d. John W. T. Crocker, by 1881, was a licensed victualler of the White Ladies Wine & Spirit Vaults and lived at White Ladies Cottage, 35 Cotham Hill, the license at this time was still held by his mother. He married Elizabeth Hill, daughter of Henry Hill, a gardener, in Potterne, near Devizes, Wiltshire on 17 August 1880 just before the death of his father. John and Elizabeth had a daughter, Sarah Elizabeth, born on 1 June 1881 at White Ladies' Cottage. A son, Harry John Crocker was born in autumn 1883. Elizabeth unfortunately died in 1897, and John subsequently married Elizabeth's sister Mary Ann Hill at St. Mary's Tyndall's Park, on 21 July 1898. By then they were living at 69 Waverley Road, Redland. They had a daughter Dorothy Elizabeth Crocker in 1899.
The license of the White Ladies Tavern was transferred from the late Sarah Crocker to her son William Charles Crocker on Weds. 18 January 1888.
William had married Elizabeth Crew in Bristol in 1878, by then he was already a manufacturing perfumier at his Melville Road address. The couple had at least seven children: Lilian Alexandra (b.1879), William Reginald Bick (b.1880), Frederick Archibald Bick (b.1882), Charles Wellington (b.1883), Daisy Marion (b.1884), Thomas Victor (b.1887) and Claudian (Claude) Stanley (b.1889). After 1887 William became part of the Wine Merchants partnership.
By 1895 the premises was known as Crockers' Refreshment Bar. "Bristol Born & Bred" has an image of the old bar on his excellent pages. The bar had a huge ship's mast attached to the roof.
On Weds. 9th August 1916 William Charles Crocker and his son Claude were in court, prosecuted under the Merchandise Marks Act for applying their own labels to bottles of lemonade, having filled bottles that actually belonged to Brooke & Prudencio Ltd. (Francis Antonio Cotterell managing director at the time) which had been delivered to the pub over several years. The Crockers were fined £12.
William's wife Elizabeth died on 6 April 1923 at their home, 39, Chandos Road, Redland. She was buried at Canford Cemetery.
From the Western Daily Press - Tuesday 29 December 1931 page 4: "DEATH OF MR W. C. CROCKER, OF REDLAND. The death has occurred of Mr William Charles Crocker at his home, 39, Chandos Road, Redland, Bristol, the age of 79 years. Mr Crocker was chairman of Crocker Brothers, Ltd., wine merchants, of Cotham Hill, from the formation of the company. He was a Bristolian by birth and received his early education at Berkeley, and afterwards went to the old Trade School in Nelson Street. For some years he studied at Bristol Infirmary, and was at one time in business in Clifton as a chemist and manufacturing perfumier. He was a well-known member of St. Saviour's Church, Redland, and for many years a member the Durdham Down Golf Club and of the Royal Empire Society." William was buried at Canford Cemetery on 29 December. He left an estate of over £11,822.
From around 1944 Crocker Brothers Ltd. opened at Bath Street, Bristol. From the Western Daily Press - Saturday 12 August 1944 page 5: "Old-Established Business. It was disclosed in a licence transfer application yesterday that Bristol Brewery Georges and Co., Ltd., had acquired Crocker Brothers, Ltd. of Cotham Hill, Bristol. Mr W. J. Davey, licensee of the Swan, Stokes, Croft, was granted a temporary licence for Messrs Crocker's, where he is to be manager, and Mr J. E. Mullens was granted a similar licence in respect of the Swan."
From the London Gazette: CROCKER BROTHERS LIMITED. At an Extraordinary General Meeting of the above-named Company duly convened and held at Bath Street, Bristol, on the 30th day of October 1963, the following Special Resolution was duly passed: "That the Company be wound up voluntarily and that John Foster Hall, F.C.I.S., of Bath Street, Bristol 1, be and he is hereby appointed Liquidator for the purposes of such winding-up." J. de S. Hall, Chairman.
Although the company Crocker Bros. Ltd. was wound up in 1963, the venue, still named "Crockers", continued as a popular club into the 1970s. Its name later changed several times and is now part of the "Brewhouse and Kitchen" chain.
| 1 Gallon Stoneware Flagon | |
| Impressed:
S. CROCKER / Wine & Spirit Merchant / 33 Cotham Hill / Clifton
Bristol Potter: Powell △ Bristol - 2 tone Bristol glaze. |
| Half Gallon
Stoneware Flagon |
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| Impressed:
CROCKER BROS LTD / Wine Merchants / BRISTOL Potter: Price 21 Bristol - Straight sided 2 tone Bristol glaze. |
| 1 Gallon Stoneware
Flagon |
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| Impressed:
CROCKER BROS / WINE MERCHANTS / COTHAM HILL / BRISTOL Potter: Price 11 Bristol - Straight sided 2 tone Bristol glaze. |