Potter: Powell Bristol, two tone glaze, round bodied.
Image courtesy Paul De'Ath.
George Hayward Sturmey was a Porter Merchant, then a Wine Merchant living at 9, then 8 Trafalgar Place, Weston, Bath, next to the Weston Brewery (9) and the Trafalgar Place Brewery (10). In 1851-1861. He was born in Weston around 1813, baptised in All Saints, Weston on 12 Sept. 1813, the son of Thomas and Amelia. He married Sophia Anne Dunn on 17 May 1845 at St. James, Westminster, London. They had children Georgina Helen (1846), Christian Luther (1849), Sophia Jane (1851),Waldemar Morris (1854), Cecelia Agnes (1856) and Augusta Evangeline (1862).
From around 1851, George Sturmey was a Wine Merchant at Broadley & Sturmey in Northgate Street, Bath, in 1852 they were at Waring & Co.'s former Guiness and Porter outlet at Gascoyne Place, Sawclose.
George Sturmey's partnership with John Broadley as wine and spirit and porter merchants Broadley & Sturmey, and at one time Sturmey and Broadley, at the Wine & Spirit Vaults, Gascoyne Place, Sawclose, Bath was dissolved by effluxion of time in favour of John Broadley on 18 July 1872, Broadley took Chancery Proceedings against his late partner and by Oct.1872 set up business at the same place with former associate of 26 years, Charles Answorth. Business carried forward as Broadley and Answorth. George has attempted to restart a business at 6 Abbey Churchyard but the business was liquidated by arrangement in Feb. 1873. George then residing at 25 Great Stanhope Street, where he had been for 6 months, set up as a wine merchant at the Bazaar Wine Vaults in Quiet Street, he applied for a spirit license on 25 Aug. adjourned until 15 Sept. 1874, but although he was of good character, the license was refused as the premises was too small, only having one room, the requirement being two. He had moved to 17 York Street by 1876. Daughter Georgina meanwhile had set up business as a Furrier, and by 1881 her father lived with her, and in 1884 was a wine agent and valuer at 18 Orange Grove. George remained at Orange Grove until his death in January 1891, he was buried at Bath Abbey on 10 Jan. 1891.
| 2 Gallon Stoneware Flagon | |
| Impressed:
Broadley
& Sturmey / Wine & Spirit Merchants / BATH Potter: Powell Bristol, two tone glaze, round bodied. Image courtesy Paul De'Ath. |
Christian Luther Sturmey was son of George Hayward Sturmey and Sophia Anne Dunn, baptised at Weston on 14 Nov. 1849. He followed his father into the wine merchant business. At age 20 in 1869 he went into partnership with John Howells, at Liverpool Chambers, Corn Street, Bristol, as Sturmey, Howells & Co., importers of foreign wines and spirits. The business did not last long however, and by June 1871 they had declined the business and were selling off stock, The partnership was officially dissolved around 4 July 1871. By September 1871, Christian had set up business with James E. Wissett, as Sturmey & Wissett, wine merchants, St. Stephen's avenue, Bristol. It seems this partnership was very short lived. Christian moved back to Bath around 1874. He married Emily Harvey in 1875 and by 1881 had the license for the Wine Vaults at 39 Southgate Street. He died on 30 August 1882 at the wine vaults. The license transferred to Emily on 13 Oct. 1883.
John Howells was born at Llantwit Major near Cowbridge, Glamorgan, in 1822. In 1871 he was a wine merchant lodging at 4 Sion Hill, Clifton. He was at one time a master linen draper at 4 Mall buildings, Clifton where he appears on the 1861 census.
From the Western Daily Press - Wednesday 21 May 1884 page 5: Sudden Death of Gentleman. —Mr John Howells, who was formerly in business at the Mall, and subsequently a partner in the firm of Messrs Sturmey and Howells, wine merchants, died suddenly in Bristol. The deceased, who was an active member of the committee of the Bristol Cambrian Society, had lately lived retired at Cowbridge, in Glamorganshire, and be came to this city to attend the funeral of his sister. He was found dead in bis bedroom on Sunday morning, death having resulted from heart disease.
John was buried at Arnos Vale Cemetery.
James Edward Wissett was born in London, on 20 Oct. 1833, baptised at St. Peter's, Regent Square on 15 Jan. 1834. He was a wine and spirit merchant at 16 Small Street, Bristol, in 1863 but by 1871 he was a surveyor to an insurance company, living with his mother's family at Westbury upon Trym. After a very brief partnership with Sturmey in 1871-74 he went back to surveying. He died in 1910.
| 6 Gallon Stoneware Flagon |   |
| Impressed:
6 / STURMEY HOWELLS & Co / Wholesale Wine & Spirit Merchants
/ BRISTOL (Small faint 18 on base of lip) Potter: Price + Bristol, two tone glaze, round bodied. |