H. T. & J. Evens

From the Bristol Times and Mirror - Saturday 5 March 1814 page 2: "TO SPIRIT MERCHANTS AND OTHERS , FOR SALE BY AUCTION, On FRIDAY the 18th March inst. at Six o'clock in the evening, By Mr. CHILCOTT, At the HOPE and ANCHOR INN Redcliff Hill, Bristol (unless previously disposed by private contract, of which due notice will be given). A Substantial and well-built Freehold DWELLING HOUSE, situate on Redcliff-Hill, the corner of Guinea street, now occupied by Mr. Evens, as tenant-at-will; where the Wholesale and Retail Spirit trade has been established and carried on for more than half a century. The above premises have the advantage of a large dry arched cellar. and a supply of both sorts of water, with every convenience for carrying on the above trade. N.B. The Tenant will shew the premises. For further particulars and to treat by private contract please to apply to the Broker, No. 78, Castle-street."

Thomas Evens, Liquor Merchant, was born in 1781. He married Hannah Tudor Hall by licence at St. Mary Redcliffe on 21 Jan 1816. They had three children: Thomas (born 25 Sep 1816 and baptised 3 Nov at Bedminster Langton Street Wesleyan), James (born around 1820) who carried on the business with his mother, and Hannah (born around 1826). Hannah Tudor Hall, Thomas's wife, was the daughter of Henry Hall and Mary Griffin of Long Ashton, the Tudor part of her name was her grandmother's maiden name on her father's side. She was born in Long Ashton on 19 Sep 1796 and was baptised at Long Ashton on 23 Oct. Thomas Evens died on 24 Jan 1831 of Erysipelas, and was buried on 31st in a vault at Bedminster Langton Street Methodist (now under the flats).

Hannah Tudor Evens died at Anglesea Place, Durdham Down on 27 Jan 1857 aged 79 according to the Bristol Mercury.

James Evens died on 12 March 1899 at his home in Stokecliffe, Dartmouth in his 81st year. He also had a home in Little Sneyd, Stoke Bishop.

In 1920 Evens & Sons Ltd. of Bristol merged with Frank Rigby & Co. of Liverpool. Estd. 1796.

2 Gallon Flagon
Impressed: 2 / H. T. & J. EVENS / Recliff Hill / BRISTOL Potter: Unstamped

6 Gallon Flagon
Impressed: 6 / H. T. & J. EVENS / Recliff Hill / BRISTOL Potter: Unstamped

2 Gallon Flagon
Impressed: 2 / EVENS / BRISTOL Potter: Unstamped. 2 tone, round bodied, flared lip style.

Small Flat Sided Flask
Impressed: H. T. & J. EVENS / REDCLIFF HILL / BRISTOL Potter: Unstamped Height: 16.3 cm. Picture courtesy Si Chesterman.

Thomas Stephens was born in 1818 in Temple, Bristol, baptised 26 July at Temple church, son of tinplate worker Thomas Stephens and wife Virtue Webster, who had married in St. Nicholas, Bristol, on 20 June 1803. Thomas's father eventually became a hairdresser, and his son followed that profession, having a business at 3 Redcliff Hill which had lasted for 17 years in the same hands. Thomas junior married Caroline Wright, at St. Andrew, Clifton, on 18 February 1840, he was a hairdresser and toy dealer at the time. Thomas acquired the business from H. T. & J.Evens after they had relocated to Nicholas Street in 1855.

From the Bristol Mercury - Saturday 2 December 1854 page 8: "TO HAIRDRESSERS & TOY DEALERS, A RARE OPPORTUNITY. That Old-Established Business in the above line to be DISPOSED OF. Has not changed hands for the last 17 years; N. B. the present proprietor going into another business,—For particulars, apply to THOMAS STEPHENS. 3 Redcliff-hill."

From the Bristol Mercury - Saturday 10 January 1857 page 3: "BRANDY! BRANDY!! BRANDY!!! The very best old COGNAC BRANDY, of the Vintage of 1851, at 28s. per gallon; a very fine old French Brandy, at 24s. per gallon; a very superior old Port Wine at 45s. and 51s. per doz.; old Golden or Pale Sherries, at 42s., 45s.. and 51s. per doz.; Sparkling Champagne, at 20s., 60s., and 70s. per doz.; the real MARILLA CHERRY BRANDY, at 16s. per gallon, in bottles, at 34s. 6d. per doz., bottles included, at THOMAS STEPHENS & CO'S., IMPORTERS OF WINE AND SPIRITS, REDCLIFF-HILL, And Nos. 1 and 2, GUINEA-STREET."

Thomas and Caroline had children: Caroline Florence, bapt. 2 March 1845; Lavinia Marianne, bapt. 28 March 1847; Horace bapt. 29 April 1849; Marian Eugenie, bapt. 4 May 1856, (died 1856) and Herbert Murray bapt. 13 December 1863.

Caroline Florence married Thomas, son of Mr. James Smith of Hull, at St. Augustine's, Bristol, on 23 Sept. 1868.

Advertisements run in the newspapers until the end of 1870 and Thomas is still licenced victualler at the "Little Bottle", now 24 Redcliff hill, in the 1871 census. The Newspaper advertisements show the Wine and Spirit Merchant business at 55 Redcliff Hill and 1 & 2 Guinea Street until at least 1870, the street numbers seem interchangeable so very confusing.

There is also another Thomas Stephens in Little King Street in a similar line of business, but this seems to be a different man.

The license of the "Little Bottle" was transferred to Thomas Hampton on 28 January 1873.

Thomas Stephens, late of Redcliff Hill, died at 3 Sion Place, Cheltenham Road, on 11 March 1883.

Small Flat Sided Flask
Impressed: STEPHENS / Late Evens / Redcliff Hill / BRISTOL Potter: Unstamped Picture courtesy Paul De'Ath.

Large Flat Sided Flask
Impressed: STEPHENS / Late Evens / Redcliff Hill / BRISTOL Potter: Unstamped Height: 24cm. Pictures courtesy Miles Griffin.

Thomas, Hannah Tudor & James Evens

Wine & Spirit Merchants, The "Little Bottle"

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Small Saltglaze Brownware Flagon
Impressed: T. EVENS / REDCLIFF HILL/ BRISTOL Potter: Unstamped Height: 16.5 cm. Pictures courtesy Si Chesterman.

2 Gallon Saltglaze Brownware Flagon
Impressed: 2 / H. T. EVENS / REDCLIFF HILL/ BRISTOL Potter: Unstamped Picture courtesy Paul De'Ath.