Thomas Brooke was a son of Charles Brooke, a Bath druggist, and his wife Mary Ann Clarke. Charles and Mary had married on 11 Jun 1829 in Bedminster St. John, Bristol. Thomas was baptised on 11 August 1830 at Walcot St. Swithin. At the time, his father Charles was a surgeon and the family were living at 31 Rivers Street, Walcot. Thomas married Mary Ann Leigh on 13 July 1851 at Pucklechurch St. Thomas a Becket, Mary was from Winsford, Somerset. Charles had moved to 44 Walcot Street by this date and by 1852 he was listed as trading at 5 and a half, Walcot Street. By 1861 Thomas is listed in the census as a Soda Water Manufacturer living at 44 Merchant Street, St. James, Bristol. At the same time, his father Charles had also become a soda water manufacturer at 5a, Walcot Street, in Bath as well as carrying on the druggist trade. By 1865 Thomas had relocated to a new premises on the west side of Captain Carey's Lane near Old Market, Bristol (demolished for the Old Market underpass). By 1871 he was employing 10 men and 11 boys, whereas Charles was employing 3 men and 3 boys in Bath. The Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette - Thursday 8 May 1879 p.3. reports an incident of 55 ginger beer bottles being worth 12/- stolen (glass) from Charles Brooke, i.e. not returned and instead sold to a bottle dealer in the same street as Brooke's works. Brooke described his bottles as marked with his name and "anchor and faggot" trade mark. This seemed a common practice at the time, much to the dismay of the manufacturers. Charles continued to trade at 5 & 6 Walcot Street until 1884 but Thomas took over in Charles' later years until his death on 12 March 1890 and the business passed to Thomas entirely. From at least 1892 the Bath company name changed to Brooke & Co. and traded from 44 Walcot Street & 20 Grove Street, Bath.
Thomas was interred at Locksbrook Cemetery, Bath on Thurs 20 Jan 1898 in the grave of his Mother-in-law Mrs. Tucker. At that time he had been head of both Brooke and Prudencio of Bristol and Brooke & Co. of Bath. He died on Saturday 15 Jan 1898 at his residence at Cotham, Bristol. Brooke & Prudencio formed in August 1889 from the merger of Thomas Brooke's business with that of Batten & Prudencio.
Charles Fitzherbert Brooke was Thomas's younger brother. He was born at Sherston, Wilts. around 1837, he was baptised that year on 31 Dec. at Sherston Magna. He married Sarah Jane Gray of Bath on 20 Sep. 1859 at Bath St. Michael. In 1861 he was a Soda Water Manufacturer living at 4 St. Mark's Place West, Lyncombe, it is likely he worked for his father. In 1871-80 he was a beer retailer at "The Eagle" porter stores, 4 and a half, Maryleport Street in Bristol. In December 1880 he went into liquidation as an aerated water manufacturer at Hollister Street, St. Paul's and at Banner Road, Ashley Vale. By 1881 he was running the plant at Captain Carey's Lane for his brother Thomas. By 1894 Charles was a commercial traveller living at 19 Sussex Place, Bristol. He died in 1901.
10oz Codd's Bottle | |
Embossed
(front): BROOKE / (Anchor & Faggot trade mark) /
BATH Image courtesy: Marcus Pennington. Glassworks: . E. Breffitt & Co. Ld. / Makers / Castleford / 6740. |
10oz Hamilton Bottle | |
Embossed: T. BROOKE / (Anchor + B trade mark)
/ BRISTOL / SUPERIOR AERATED / MINERAL WATERS. Glassworks: not marked. |
10oz Hamilton Bottle | |
Embossed: T. BROOKE / BRISTOL / SUPERIOR
AERATED / MINERAL WATERS. Glassworks: not marked. |
6oz Hamilton Bottle | |
Embossed: T. BROOKE / (Anchor + B trade mark)
/ BRISTOL Glassworks: not marked. |
Gingerade skittles | |
Embossed: T. BROOKE (B+Anchor
Registered Trade Mark) / CHAMPAGNE / GINGERADE / BRISTOL Glassworks: Powell & Ricketts, Bristol. |
Gingerade skittle | |
Embossed: T. BROOKE / CHAMPAGNE /
GINGERADE / BRISTOL Glassworks: Powell & Ricketts, Bristol. |
Gingerade skittle | |
Embossed: C. BROOKE / TRADE /
(Anchor+Faggot ) / MARK / BATH. Dug photo courtesy: Marcus Pennington. Glassworks: Unmarked. |
Split Size Skittle | |
Embossed: BROOKE & Co. / TRADE (Anchor &
Faggot ) MARK / BATH Image courtesy: Marcus Pennington. Glassworks: B. & Co. Ld. / K / 2231 |
Split Size Skittle | |
Embossed: BROOKE & Co. / TRADE (Anchor &
Faggot ) MARK / BATH Clear glass. Image courtesy: Marcus Pennington. Glassworks: B. & Co. Ld. / K |
Split Size Skittle | |
Embossed: BROOKE & Co. / TRADE (Large Anchor
& Block instead of Faggot ) MARK / BATH Image courtesy: Marcus Pennington. Glassworks: unmarked. |
Split Size Skittle | |
Embossed with outer circle: BROOKE & Co. / TRADE
(Anchor, B & Faggot in Shield ) MARK / BATH Image courtesy: Marcus Pennington. Glassworks: unmarked. |
Barrett & Elers style Stick Stoppered Bottle | |
Embossed: C. BROOKE & Co./ TRADE
/ (Anchor+Faggot ) / MARK / BATH. Image (right) courtesy: Paul De'Ath. Glassworks: Unmarked. |
Barrett & Elers style Stick Stoppered Bottle | |
Embossed: BROOKE / (Anchor+B)
/ TRADE MARK. Image courtesy: Paul De'Ath. Glassworks: ?. |
Split size Codd's Patent 4 Bottle | |
Embossed
(front): T. BROOKE / (Anchor & B) / BRISTOL Glassworks: Codd Rylands, Barnsley. Image courtesy: Aled Rees. |
Codd's Premier Patent Bottle | |
Embossed
(front): BROOKE / (Anchor & B) / TRADE MARK. Glassworks: ? London. Image courtesy: Paul De'Ath. |
Codd's Premier Patent Bottle | |
Embossed
(front): C. BROOKE / (Anchor & B) / BATH Glassworks: ? Image courtesy: Paul De'Ath. |
Split size Bullet Stoppered Bottle | |
Embossed:
T. BROOKE / (Anchor & B) / BRISTOL Glassworks: Powell & Ricketts, Bristol. |
10oz Bullet Stoppered Bottle | |
Embossed
lengthwise: C. BROOKE / (Anchor & Faggot) / BATH Image courtesy: Marcus Pennington. Glassworks: Unmarked. Large anchor on base. |
10oz Bullet Stoppered Bottle | |
Embossed:
T. BROOKE / (Anchor & B) / BRISTOL Glassworks: Unmarked. Brooke monogram on base. Image courtesy: Paul De'Ath. |
Stone Ginger Beer Bottle | |
Printed: THOMAS BROOKE / MINERAL
WATER / (Anchor+B ) / MANUFACTURER / BRISTOL. Potter: Powell, Bristol. |
Stone Ginger Beer Bottle | |
Printed: BROOKE & CO./
(Anchor+Faggot) / BATH. Image courtesy: Marcus Pennington. Cork stoppered. Potter: PRICE / 0 / BRISTOL |