Robert Keevill & Herbert Hillier

Chemist and Aerated Water Manufacturers

Keevill & Hillier, Mineral Water Manufacturers, Redcliff Hill, Bristol. - The above important branch of industry is well represented in Bristol by the old-established firm of Messrs. Keevill & Hillier. Their business was established about fifteen years ago at Clifton, but has been conducted at the present address for more than ten years. The premises are very extensive, and comprise large and well equipped works, offices, and warehouses, with every convenience for the successful working of a large business. The various departments are replete with the most modern machinery and appliances. As manufacturers of mineral and aerated waters Messrs. Keevill & Hillier are known far and near. They are specially noted for seltzer and ginger ale, and a large trade is done in syphons. Their home-brewed ginger beer in stone bottles has a reputation second to none in the district. They also turn out in large and increasing quantities single and double soda water, lemonade, potass, lithia, seltzer, quininade, orange champagne, &c. Messrs. Keevill & Hillier are keenly alive to the fact that the best goods can only be made from the best materials; the greatest care, therefore, is exercised in selecting goods only of the best quality, and quality is never sacrificed to price. For purity, delicacy of flavour, and aroma these well-known beverages are justly celebrated. Messrs. Keevill & Hillier are eminently successful in maintaining these features at the highest state, perfect filtration being the first consideration. The business connections are of a widespread, influential and steadily growing character, and every item of the firm's manufacture to-day tends to thoroughly sustain the eminent repute in which this house has been held during the term of its long and deservedly prosperous commercial career.

Ports of the Bristol Channel, 1893-p.200

    Robert Keevill's likely parents, Robert Keevill (a thatcher) and Ann Mary Keevill married at St. John the Baptist, Midsomer Norton, 22 Sept. 1835. It appears that Ann's father, also a Robert Keevill, a widower, had been transported to New South Wales for life for stealing a calf on 22nd July that same year. Her husband Robert was likely the son of John and Martha Kevill, baptised at the same church on 22 May 1803.
     If the above is true then our Robert was born 14th June 1837 in Midsomer Norton, baptised at the Wesleyan there 27th June 1837, registered in Bath, 1840. He married Emma Jane Eckley Gray, at Charlcombe just north of Bath, by license (dated the 6th), on 17th Jul. 1860. The reason for the license it being stated that Robert was under 21 years of age and "hereafter made oath that the consent of Ann Mary Keevill, the mother of the said Robert Keevill, Robert Keevill his father being dead, and he having no guardian of his person lawfully appointed, this said mother being unmarried, hath been obtained to such marriage." This suggests the parentage stated above is correct, but Robert was perhaps unaware of his own real age. Neither Robert nor his mother can be found by me in the 1841 and 1851 census, which is unusual. Emma, Robert's wife, was the daughter of attorney William G. Gray and granddaughter of the late John Gray, surgeon of Bath.
     Robert was already living in York Buildings, Clifton at the time of his marriage, and the couple can be found there in the 1861 census, Robert then being a chemist & druggist, but as yet unqualified. He passed his examination to become a pharmaceutical chemist from the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain on 14th March 1866. By 1872 Robert was advertising "Buckingham Palace" for rent, "One of the best residences in Clifton", so by this point he was clearly a wealthy businessman.
     Robert & Emma had children: Alice Matilda, b. 1861; Arthur Gordon, b. 1873; Gertrude Mary, b. 1865, m. 1st Sept. 1891; Margaret Frances E., b.1866-d.1868; Ernest Montgomery, b. 1869; Ellen Kathleen, b.1870; Alfred Douglas, b. 1872; Robert Graham, b. 1873; Donald Frank, b. 1879.
    Robert set up a new factory for the manufacture of aerated waters at 1 Redcliff Hill in spring 1881, the following notice was posted in the Clifton Chronicle 7th Dec. 1881, he had been perfecting his products on a smaller scale for around 3 years in Clifton prior to this announcement:

THE CLIFTON PURE AERATED WATER WORKS,
YORK BUILDINGS AND CLIFTON PLACE

-

Mr. R. KEEVILL, Pharmaceutical Chemist, of York-Buildings, has, at considerable outlay, perfected his arrangements for the manufacture of Aerated Waters, now coming so much into daily use. The machinery employed is on the most modern and improved principles, alike for the manufacture of carbonic acid gas, the distillation of water, and the cleaning and filling of bottles, &c. All essences, syrups, and tinctures are made in Mr. KEEVILL'S Laboratory, and everything tested as to its purity. Among the beverages made are Soda, Potash, Chlorate Potash, Seltzer, Lithia, and Quinine Waters, Lemonade, Champagne Cider, Orange Champagne, Ginger Ale, and Eau-de-Zone. The Quinine Water is really made with quinine, and the Lemonade is of special quality, suitable for any invalids, being made purely from lemons, which is more than can be said for much that is sold as Quinine and Lemonade. The water used is pure and filtered, a filter capable of supplying 1500 gallons a day being used. Mr. KEEVILL has taken into partnership an experienced Chemist, who gives his whole time to the manufacture of the Waters, Mr. KEEVILL himself taking the general superintendence. We have personally tested and tasted some of the Waters, and readily bear testimony to their excellence and purity. They are all charged with an adequate but proportionate amount of gas, and the ingredients used are the best of their kind. Since Mr. KEEVILL commenced this branch of his business in the spring the demand for these refreshing beverages has rapidly increased, and they have met with so much favour that there are already the germs of a large and progressive local industry, vans now being sent weekly - one day to Clevedon, Portishead, and surrounding villages, next day to Westbury and to New Passage, and the following day to Keynsham and adjacent villages &c.
-
FACTORY-REDCLIFF HILL

   In 1882 there was an accident at the factory:
"ACCIDENT TO A SODA WATER BOTTLER - On Monday a man named William Baker, 30 years of age, in the employ of Messrs. Keevill & Co., soda-water manufacturers, Redcliff Hill, and who resides in St. Jude's, was taken to the General Hospital suffering from severe scalds about the face, caused, it is alleged, by a generator exploding." Bristol Mercury - Wednesday 21st June 1882.
    In the winter of 1882 he was advertising non-alcaholic winter beverages: Hot Tom at 1s 6d per doz. and Bitter Ale at 2s per doz. at Clifton, Redcliff Hill, and Wine Street, Stroud. Meanwhile Keevill's chemist shop was advertising toothache wool and patent trusses.
    More tragedy struck the business in 1884 when Eliza Vowles, a 33 year old Clifton Wood woman, who had been suffering from consumption, died of an opium overdose after a prescription mix-up by Keevill's assistant Wac-Taw Thomas Klonowski, a German pharmacist, who has accidentally replaced Jalap Powders with opium mixed Ipecacuanha pills, which would have been ok if taken by a healthy individual, but had a disastrous effect on poor Eliza. The police court were not sympathetic and a charge of gross negligence was found by the jury. The Coroner said that amounted to a verdict of manslaughter and the foreman of the jury said yes. Mr. Keevill stood bail for his assistant until the case came to trial at the Spring Assize. Fortunately the jury this time took a different view and thought it was an easy mistake that even the most skilled person could be guilty of, they found the accused not guilty and he was discharged.

    Robert Keevill, of West-view, Clifton, and Norton Down House, Chilcompton, Somerset, died at Brislington House, Brislington on 16th Sept. 1896. Probate to George Martin Carlile, Grocer and Arthur Gordon Keevill, gentleman.

    Arthur Gordon Keevill: From at least 1888 it is clear that it is Robert's son Arthur who is chiefly involved in the mineral water business, in January 1889 he is listed as a committee member at the second annual meeting of the Bristol & District Bottle Exchange Association, and by March 1894 he is secretary, and still a member in 1895. He was also involved with the Wesleyan church at Chilcompton, where he was president of the Wesleyan "Band of Hope". After the death of his father, Arthur married Mary Catherine Porter in Bedminster in Sept. 1897, the banns were read in Nailsea where Arthur was a captain in the local Boys Brigade. After his marriage, Arthur had become a commission agent, employing his brother Donald. It is likely that in 1889 Keevill acquired the Park Street Mineral Water Co. along with their distinctive phoenix and shield trade mark, which supplanted the A1 trade mark originally used by Robert Keevill.

    In February 1915, Donald F. Keevill and Arthur G. Keevill, trading as Keevill, Webb, Fardon & Co., 39 Redcliffe Street, manufacturing chemists, were in the hands of the official receivers. They had been in business together since 1st Dec. 1901 when they purchased the business from Mr. A. E. Fardon, being in Thomas Street for a while before moving to Redcliffe Street.

    Herbert Joseph Hillier was much younger than Robert Keevill, born early in 1865 and baptised 22nd January in Llanfrechfa, Monmouthshire. His father was James Herbert Hillier and mother was Mary Pearce, who had married in Yate on 5th Apr. 1864. At age 7 Herbert was boarding with a school teacher in Christchurch, Newport, Mon. In 1891 he was working in Walcot, Bath as a Grocer's assistant at 19-20 High Street. It is likely that he joined the company then run by Arthur G. Keevill, as a partner the following year. He was involved in a court case defending a grocer for selling vinegar that was not malt vinegar but "wood" vinegar manufactured by Keevill & Hillier in Nov.-Dec. 1893. The grocer lost but it was a landmark case defining what could be sold as "vinegar" and overturning a definition from an act of Geo. III.

    Herbert J. Hillier won a prize medal in May 1894 for his mineral waters at the Brewery Exhibition, Manchester. The company was still Keevill & Hillier at this time.
Herbert married Ada Mary Lea, (who was born in Sudbury, Derbyshire in 1872) in Nottingham, the home of her widowed mother, in the first quarter of 1897. Herbert and Ada had children: James Herbert Hillier, b.1902; Eileen Lea Hillier, b.1905, bapt. St. Mary Redcliffe, 14 Oct. 1905. The had been another child who had died in infancy. When Robert Keevill died in 1896 it seems that his son Arthur George left the mineral water trade to Herbert Hillier in order to pursue his own ambitions, and Herbert carried on until 1912, when the business was disposed of.
    A. M. Hillier & Co.: It seems, however, that Herbert's wife Ada Mary carried on the business for a while under her own name, from a premises at 25 North Street, Bedminster. She appears in the 1914 Kelly's directory.
Herbert died at 684 Southmead Road, Filton, on 16th Nov. 1937, he was buried at Easton-in-Gordano. His wife Ada died in 1956.

55 REDCLIFF HILL, BRISTOL
TO MINERAL WATER MANUFACTURERS,
BOTTLE and BOX MERCHANTS and OTHERS.

EDWARD T. PARKER & CO.
have received instructions to SELL by AUCTION, as above, on MONDAY Next, February 26th 1912, the
MINERAL WATER PLANT,
MACHINERY, BOTTLES, & EFFECTS,

of Mr. Herbert Hillier, comprising:-
    Vertical Engine and Boiler, Shafting and Pulleys. Two Soda Water Making Machines with Pumps by Stevens; Three Filling Machines by Stockwell, Barrett, and others; Generator and Gas Holders by Seddons. Bottle Washing Tank. Bottling Machine. Syrup Pans, Filtering Machines and Stands, Steam Jacket Pan, Brushes, Essences, and numerous Plant appertaining to the Trade. SEVERAL THOUSAND STONE JARS, BOTTLES, BOXES and SYPHONS. USEFUL CHESTNUT HORSE. TWO LIGHT DELIVERY TROLLEYS. Harness, Stable Tools; also the
    OFFICE FURNITURE, including Desks, Iron Safe by Price, Letter Cabinet, Stationary, Labels, together with the
GOODWILL of the Business.
Sale at Twelve o'clock precisely.
    Further Particulars can be obtained of the Auctioneers, St. Stephen Street, Bristol.



Stone Ginger Beer Bottle Keevil11.jpg
Printed:  (Phoenix & M. & Co. Monogram in shield-Registered / Trade Mark) KEEVILL'S / BREWED / GINGER BEER

Potter: Powell / Bristol - cork top.

Stone Ginger Beer Bottle Keevil14.jpg
Printed:  KEEVILL & Co. / NON-INTOXICATING / BITTER / BEER / BRISTOL

Potter: Bristol ?- cork top.
Image courtesy: Aled Rees

10oz Bullet Stopper Bottle Keevil12.jpg
Embossed: KEEVILL / A1 / TRADE MARK / CLIFTON & BRISTOL.
"THIS BOTTLE IS THE PROPERTY OF KEEVILL" embossed around base.

No Maker's mark.

10oz Bullet Stopper Bottle Keevill11.jpg
Embossed: KEEVILL & Co./ A1 / TRADE MARK / CLIFTON.

"THIS BOTTLE IS THE PROPERTY OF / KEEVILL & Co." embossed around base.

No Maker's mark.

10oz & Split Size Bulb-neck Codd's Bottle Keevill10.jpg
Embossed: KEEVILL / A1 / TRADE MARK / CLIFTON & BRISTOL.
"THIS BOTTLE IS THE PROPERTY OF KEEVILL" embossed around base.

Glass maker: ?
Image courtesy: Aled Rees.

Standard Split Size Codd's Bottle Keevill8.jpg
Embossed: KEEVILL / A1 / TRADE MARK / CLIFTON & BRISTOL. (in shield)
"THIS BOTTLE IS THE PROPERTY OF KEEVILL" embossed around base.

Glass maker: ?

Image courtesy: Aled Rees.

10oz Bullet Stopper Bottle Keevill9.jpg
Embossed: R. KEEVILL & CO./ REGISTERED /  (M. & Co. monogram, phoenix-shield) TRADE MARK / BRISTOL.


Glass maker: ?

Image courtesy: Aled Rees.

10oz Bullet Stopper Bottle Keevill7.jpg
Embossed: R. KEEVILL & CO./ REGISTERED /  (M. & Co. monogram, phoenix-shield) TRADE / MARK / BRISTOL.


Glass maker: ?

Image courtesy: Aled Rees.

Stone Ginger Beer Bottle Keevill5.jpg
Printed:  (Phoenix & Monogram in shield-Registered / Trade Mark) KEEVIL & / HILLIER'S / BREWED / GINGER BEER.

Potter: Bristol ? - cork top. white glaze.

Image courtesy: Aled Rees

Split Size Bullet-Stoppered Bottle Keevill6.jpg
Embossed: KEEVILL & HILLIER ( (Phoenix & K. H. & Co. Monogram in shield-Trade / Mark) / BRISTOL.

Glass maker: ?

Image courtesy: Aled Rees.

Stone Ginger Beer Bottle Hillier1.jpg
Printed:  (Phoenix & Monogram in shield-Trade / Mark) HERBERT HILLIER'S / GENUINE / BREWED / GINGER BEER / BRISTOL / Keep Bottle Cork Upwards

Potter: Price / 0 / Bristol - cork top. dark 2 tone cream/chocolate brown glaze.

Stone Ginger Beer Bottle Hillier7.jpg
Printed:  (Phoenix & Monogram in shield-Registered / Trade Mark) HERBERT HILLIER & CO. / BREWED / GINGER BEER / BRISTOL

Potter: Bristol ?- cork top. white glaze.
Image courtesy: Aled Rees.

Stone Ginger Beer Bottle Hillier5.jpg
Printed:  (Phoenix & Monogram in shield-Trade / Mark) HERBERT HILLIER'S / GENUINE / BREWED / GINGER BEER / BRISTOL / Keep Bottle Cork Upwards

Potter: Bristol ?- Internal screw top. dark 2 tone  glaze.
Image courtesy: Aled Rees.

Stone Ginger Beer Bottle Hillier6.jpg
Printed:  (Phoenix & Monogram in shield-Trade / Mark) HERBERT HILLIER'S / GENUINE / BREWED / GINGER BEER / BRISTOL / Keep Bottle Cork Upwards

Potter: Bristol ? - Internal screw top. standard 2 tone glaze.
Image courtesy: Aled Rees.

Very large flagon (5 gal) Hillier4.jpg
Printed both sides:  329 / THIS JAR IS THE PROPERTY OF / HERBERT HILLIER / MINERAL WATER MANUFACTURER / REDCLIFF HILL / BRISTOL / - / PRIZE MEDAL AWARDED

Potter: ? Bristol - vented screw top tap jar.

Large Ginger Beer Bottle Shaped Flagon (2 gal) Hillier13.jpg
Printed both sides:  306 / THIS JAR IS THE PROPERTY OF / HERBERT HILLIER / MINERAL WATER MANUFACTURER / REDCLIFF HILL / BRISTOL / - / PRIZE MEDAL AWARDED

Potter:? Bristol - vented screw top tap jar.

10oz Codd Bottle Hillier8.jpg
Embossed: HERBERT HILLIER / (centre: Phoenix & Monogram in shield-TRADE / MARK) / BRISTOL

Glass maker: ?



Image courtesy: Aled Rees.

Split Size Codd Bottle Hillier12.jpg
Embossed in circle: HERBERT HILLIER / (centre: Phoenix & Monogram in shield-TRADE / MARK) / BRISTOL

Glass maker: ?

Image courtesy: Aled Rees.

10oz Codd Bottle Hillier3.jpg
Embossed: HERBERT HILLIER / (centre: Phoenix & Monogram in shield-TRADE / MARK- AWARDED / PRIZE MEDAL) / BRISTOL

Glass maker: ? / Makers / Newport

Split Size Codd Bottle Hillier2.jpg
Embossed: HERBERT HILLIER / (centre: Phoenix & Monogram in shield-TRADE / MARK- AWARDED / PRIZE MEDAL) / BRISTOL

Glass maker: D. R. LD. / 4

Half pint beer/mineral Hillier11.jpg
Embossed: HERBERT HILLIER / (centre: Phoenix & Monogram in shield-TRADE / MARK- AWARDED / PRIZE MEDAL)  / BRISTOL
Internal Screw Stopper.
Glass maker: ?
Image courtesy: Aled Rees.

Split Size Codd Bottle Hillier10.jpg
Embossed inside circle: HERBERT HILLIER / (centre: Phoenix & Monogram in shield-TRADE / MARK- AWARDED / PRIZE MEDAL) / BRISTOL

Glass maker: ?
Image courtesy: Aled Rees.

10oz Codd Bottle Hillier9.jpg
Embossed inside oval: HERBERT HILLIER / (centre: Phoenix & Monogram in shield-TRADE / MARK) / BRISTOL

Glass maker: ?


Image courtesy: Aled Rees.

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