The Grocers' Alliance

General Grocers & Wine & Spirit Merchants.


William Dudd senior was born in 1819 in Bristol, baptised 26 March at Clifton St. Andrew, son of mariner and Naval Officer, William Dudd of Clifton and his wife Hester Lloyd.

William married Elizabeth, daughter of George Insall, a trunk maker of Kingsdown Parade, at St. James, Bristol, on 14 July 1847, his father is stated as William on his marriage record but Henry on his baptism record which is somewhat confusing. By August 1844 William is a grocer at 1 Alfred Hill and is an agent for Stivens's Green Ginger Wine, and by the 1851 census has a daughter Annie Maria Dudd aged 2, she was baptised 26 May 1848. Another daughter Emma was born 1849 and baptised 20 Sept. and son William was baptised 14 Feb. 1851 also at St. James. Another daughter, Elizabeth Mary Ann Keay was born 1852, baptised 15 Dec., she did not survive a year. All children were baptised at Bristol St. James. Elizabeth, William's first wife, died on 28 November 1853 and was buried at Clifton St. Andrew on 6 December that year. On 26 September 1854, at Pulham, Dorset, William married another Elizabeth Insall, daughter of Thomas Insall of Langton, Dorset. William went on to have two more daughters by his second wife: Mary Louisa, baptised 8 April 1857, and Julia Matilda, born 1 Feb. 1859, baptised 16 March.

William and Elizabeth's daughter Mary Louisa became a grocer in her own right around 1874, running a shop at Alma Vale and later assisting her parents at the Hampton Road shop. Her sister Julia became an organist.

At the adjourned Bristol Licensing Session of Weds. 16 Sept. 1874, the magistrates heard the following application to sell by retail, in bottle, off the premises :—Mary Dudd, grocer, Alma-vale, Pembroke-road, Clifton, to sell beer, cider, and wine—Superintendent Thatcher said the premises were not finished. Adjourned to the 30th.

At the adjourned Bristol licensing sessions 17 Sept. 1879, William Dudd, grocer, Waverley House, Hampton Road. Westbury, beer and eider (ordinary) and foreign and British wines. License Granted to sell bottled alcohol for consumption off the premises.

From the Western Daily Press - Monday 27 August 1883 page 3: "Robbing Employer.—Emma Burnell was charged with stealing a quantity of wearing apparel, value £3 10s, the property of William Dudd, grocer, Hampton Road. Detective Cann, 5 E. stated on the previous day, in consequence of information received, he went to No. 4, Bridewell Street, and asked to see Emma Burnell. She made her appearance, and witness then told her that he should charge her with stealing a quantity of wearing apparel and other articles from 4, Hampton Road, where she had lately been living in service. He went up into the accused's bedroom, and in her box he found the articles she was charged with stealing. Among the articles were a cashmere jacket, a black dress, a pair of boots, pair of ear-rings, three aprons, two silk handkerchiefs, and a brooch. Mary Dudd, daughter of the prosecutor, said the articles, with a few exceptions, belonged to her The accused came as a servant for a month trial, and left at the expiration of that time. It was stated by Detective Cann that the girl, though only seventeen years of age, had been in seven places of service. Her father gave her bad character, and said he would have nothing more to do with her. The magistrates passed a sentence of two months' imprisonment."

At the sessions of 12 March 1884 Thomas Robert Ind and Oliver Holland gained the beer off-license at 6 Highbury Parade from Edwin Rogers.

From the Western Daily Press - Saturday 05 September 1885 page 8 "LICENSING NOTICES. To one of Overseers ef the Poor of the Parish of Westbury-upon-Trym, in the City and County of Bristol, and to the Superintendent of Police of the district. WE, THOMAS ROBERT IND and OLIVER  HOLLAND, Grocers, Beer and Wine and Spirit Dealers, now residing at No. 6, in Highbury Parade, the Parish Westbury-upon-Tryin, in the said City and County of Bristol, do hereby give Notice that it is our intention apply at adjournment the General Annual Licensing Meeting to be holden in and for the said City and County, on the 23rd day of September next ensuing, for a LICENSE to hold Excise License, to sell by retail, Bottled Spirits, to be consumed off the Premises at a House and Shop, situate at No. 6. Highbury Parade aforesaid, in the said Parish Westbury-upon-Trym, the said City and County, which Premises we rent of John Grant, of Hampton Road, in the said City and County, the Owner thereof, and which said Premises are now used as Grocer's Shop, and licensed for the sale of Beer, Wines, and Spirits, for consumption off the Premises, and are of the annual value of £50. Given under my hand this 18th day of August, 1885. THOMAS ROBERT IND. OLIVER HOLLAND."

On 30 March 1887 the Off License of 6 Alma Vale Road was transferred from Mary Bamfield to Mary Dudd, at the same sessions the Off License for 58 Hampton Road was transferred from Thomas Robert Ind and Oliver Holland to William Dudd. Oliver Holland was the Managing Director of the Grocers' Alliance.

William Dudd, gentleman, of "Woodlands", Almondsbury, died 21 October 1905. By this time, his son William was a boot manufacturer in Bedminster.

THE GROCERS’ ALLIANCE,
WAVERLEY HOUSE, HAMPTON ROAD, REDLAND, BRISTOL. (From "The Ports of the Bristol Channel", 1893.)

"THE admirably conducted business which is carried on in Hampton Road, Redland, and which is known as the Grocers’ Alliance, was originally established by Mr. Dudd. The Grocers’ Alliance, who are the present proprietors, took over the business in 1887, and since that date the previously existing connection, which was an excellent one, has been enormously developed, especially amongst the higher class residents in the district. The premises, which are very extensive, occupy a commanding site at the junction of Hampton Road and Waverley Road, and comprise a commodious double-fronted shop, having three ample plate-glass windows. At the rear is a well-appointed office, and an abundance of warehouse room, where heavy surplus stocks are held in readiness for all requirements. A copious price-list, periodically issued by the firm, constitutes a guide to the treasures of the establishment, and is much esteemed as a Work of reference by the housekeepers in the district. The Alliance’s intimate and extensive relations with leading firms of importers enable them to put supporters upon the best possible terms, both with respect to quality and to price. The several departments into which the stocks are divided may be described in general terms as follows: tea and coffee; grocery and provisions; Colonial and foreign produce; proprietary articles and perfumery; patent medicines and druggists’ sundries; brushes, combs, fancy goods, stationery, &c.; and wines and spirits. There is a large staff of competent assistants engaged. In connection with the Grocers’ Alliance a thoroughly equipped branch has been opened with signal success at St. Michael’s Hill, Cotham. This is known as the Grocers’ Alliance."

The most recent newspaper entry I have found for the Grocers' Alliance was not a favourable one and it occurred during wartime rationing. From the  Western Daily Press - Tuesday 09 March 1948 page 3: "EXCESS POINTS OFFENCE. Fines Imposed in Bristol. At the Bristol Magistrates Court yesterday, the Grocers Alliance, 58, Hampton Road, Redland, pleaded eui ltv to obtaining an excess of number of points to which they were entitled for the purpose of obtaining rationed food. There were four the company had overspent their points in four periods by 29!t>00, and had obtained foods for Mr Lester George Rogers, director of the firm pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting in all four onences. Each defendant was fined total of £30, and three guineas costs between them."

The Grocers' Alliance appears to have closed in 1959 as that is the last year it appears in the telephone directory.

The site is now Redland Auto Service Centre.

Stoneware Flagon / Tapjar-approx 2.5-3 gallon. Grocers-Alliance1.jpgGrocers-Alliance2.jpg
Impressed:  139 / THE GROCER'S ALLIANCE / WAVERLEY HOUSE / HAMPTON ROAD / REDLAND

Potter:  Price / Gx / Bristol

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