Tuck's Temperance Bar

South Wales, Bedminster, Kingswood and Gloucester.

See text for other outlets.


Horace Tuck was a botanical chemist, born in 1850 in Harston, Cambridgeshire, son of farmer Thomas Tuck and Harriet King. At age 19 he was a butcher living with his family in Harston High Street. Horace married Alma daughter of Willliam Spittle, a horse dealer of Fulham, by license, on 23 Sept. 1873 at Holy Trinity, Upper Chelsea, London, where Horace was a corn chandler. Alma died the following year aged just 19. Horace was a wine merchant by the time of his second marriage on 14 Nov. 1877 at Denver, Norfolk, to Elizabeth (Lizzie) daughter of the late Henry Sutleff a Denver farmer. In 1879 Thomas, Horace's father died, and Horace was sole executor of his estate. Horace was still in Harston in 1880. By 1881 Horace had taken to running a coffee house at 184 Kingsland Road, Haggerston, Shoreditch, London. He and Lizzie had two daughters at this time, Ursula aged 3 and Allice aged 1. In 1891 the family are in High Street, Rochester. Horace is a botanical chemist and the family have four more children: Sydney aged 8, Horace aged 6, Percy aged 4, and daughter Lilley aged 3 months. By 1891 they had a shop in Chatham, Kent. Lizzie's sister Mary Ann Sutleff is assistant.

In the Chatham News of Saturday 3 January 1891 the following advertisement appeared on the front page:

WHAT SHALL I DRINK?
TUCK'S FRUIT SYRUP AND CORDIALS

ARE ABOUT DOUBLE THE STRENGTH OF OTHER MAKERS

GINGERETTE LEMON BLACK CURRENT CHERRY
PEPPERMINT RASPBERRY PINE APPLE SARSAPARILLA
HOT TOM CLOVE SHRUB LIME FRUIT
WINTER PUNCH ELDERBERRY

TUCK'S Non Intoxicating WINES—BLACK CURRANT, GINGER, ORANGE, 9d. per bottle.
SINGLE BOTTLE AT WHOLESALE PRICE
H. Tuck, Temperance Brewer,
CHATHAM INTRA, AND 288, HIGH STREET, CHATHAM.

Unfortunately Horace died on 16 June 1892 at Chatham-intra-Rochester at age just 42, leaving his estate of £592 2s 6d to his widow Lizzie. Meanwhile a chain of Tuck's Temperance outlets were springing up throughout the land. Leading up to Horace's death many businesses in the franchise were being or were attempted to be sold off. Lizzie married again to Albert Rosenblatt on 12 Sept. 1897 in St. Mary's Wathamstow. She was a widow of independent means again by 1901 under the name of Elizabeth Rose living back in Norfolk again with son Percy, and another son Arthur John, born in Chatham on 8 Sept. 1892. Lizzie died in West Winch, Cambs. in 1906.

The business itself seems to have consisted of a set of drinks receipts that were purchased by outlets in the franchise, enabling the purchasing individuals to manufacture the "Tuck's" drinks. This was a very shrewd move by Horace, licensing distributors without incurring any overheads for materials, machinery, or rent upon himself, or indeed any risk of prosecution for sale of such products.

William Howe was a temperance drink and cordial manufacturer at 41 Clifton Street, Roath, Cardiff, Glamorgan from at least 1890 until his death on 19 Nov. 1895 at his then home of 27 Portland Moor road, Cardiff age 45.

From the South Wales Echo - Friday 21 February 1890, page 1: "WANTED, 2,000 shopkeepers to Sell Tuck's Drinks good profit.—Send postcard, with address, to Tuck's Bar, Clifton-street, Cardiff."

From the South Wales Echo - Friday 10 April 1891 page 1: "WANTED, Man to Sell Tuck's Drinks good profit no loss; a truck supplied.—Apply Tuck's Temperance Bar. Commercia1-road, Newport."

From the Reading Observer - Saturday 12 September 1891, page 1: TUCK'S TEMPERANCE BAR, 41, EAST STREET, SOUTHAMPTON. First-class Mineral Waters and Temperance Drink Business, which will be sold as a going concern. MR. WALTER WILSON has received instructions from Messrs Tuck & Co., to sell by public auction at the Star Hotel, Southampton, on Wednesday, September 23rd, 1891, at 3 o'clock precisely, as a going concern, the valuable MINERAL WATER AND TEMPERANCE DRINK BUSINESS, carried on for many years at Southampton.
There will be included the whole of the Fixtures and Fittings, in and about the premises, also a valuable collection of Receipts for the manufacture of the above-mentioned drinks.
Full particulars and conditions of sale can be obtained of F. A. Sarjeant, Esq., Solicitor, Southampton, and of the Auctioneer, 59, Oxford-street, Reading.

From the South Wales Daily News - Tuesday 8 March 1892 page 2 there is for "SALE, one of Tuck's Temperance Drink Manufacturing Businesses. Good reason for disposal.— Apply Tuck's Temperance Room, 38, Snow-hill, Birmingham."

From the Bristol Mercury - Saturday 29 October 1892, page 1: "IN BANKRUPTCY, RE JAMES WRIGHT, Of 91 AND 153, HIGH STREET, SWANSEA, TEMPERANCE DRINKS MANUFACTURER, -OR SALE by TENDER, the OFFICIAL RECEIVER'S INTEREST in the BUSINESS carried on by the above named Bankrupt under the style of "Tucks Drinks Co." No. 91, High Street is used by the Debtor as a Retail Shop, and contains the usual Fixtures, Fittings, and Utensils required in such a Business, as well as separately Billiard and Bagatelle Rooms, and Tables with the usual Requisites. No. 153, High Street, is used by the Debtor as a Manufactory, and is complete with all the necessary Aerated Water Plant, comprising Aerated Water Machine, Boilers and Carts, and a quantity of Bottles, Boxes, &c. Full particulars can be obtained from the undersigned, to whom Tenders should be delivered not later than the 5th November 1892. The Offical Receiver does not bind himself to accept the highest or any Tender. THOS. THOMAS Official Receiver. 31, Alexandra Road, Swansea."

From the South Wales Daily News - Saturday 29 October 1892 page 6: "Re JAMES WRIGHT.-The debtor carried of business at 91 and 153, High-street, Swansea, temperance drinks manufacturer. He said his liabilities were £205, and he estimated his assets at £160. He attributed his failure to bad trade, heavy expenses, and loss of a horse, and said he commenced business in 1890 with a capital of £15, having previously been in the employ of his brother, who conducted a similar business Cardiff. In December his effects were worth £350, and he advertised his business for sale- Thereupon Mr Usher, through Mr Arthur Millard, whom the debtor described as Mr Usher's representative, opened up communication with him, with the result that Mr Millard, as Mr Usher's representative, undertook to go into partnership with him, and place £500 in the business, £100 to be advanced at first. In about ten weeks the partnership was terminated, Usher saying there was not a sufficient return on his money. There was indeed a loss of £50. result was that the debtor had to buy Millard out, and pay him £25 for the use of his money. To obtain this sum be gave a bill of sale over his stock, &c. Before the examination was completed it was decided to adjourn the further examination to the next court."

From the South Wales Echo - Friday 24 February 1893, page 1: "TEMPERANCE Drinks Manufacturing Business for disposal, recipes included; genuine prospects.—Particulars of Tuck's Drinks, 'South Wales Daily News,' Cardiff."

From the South Wales Daily Post - Tuesday 18 July 1893, page 4: "WARNING TO REFRESHMENT-HOUSE KEEPERS...summoned for keeping his premises open during illegal hours... James Wright, of Prince of Wales-road, refreshment-house keeper, was summoned for a similar offence on the 9th inst. A number of men were found in the house at midnight. Defendant said other persons kept their houses open the same as he did, and grumbled that he should have been selected out of the number. He was mulcted in a fine of £1 and costs."

From the Western Daily Press - Wednesday 07 February 1894, page 4: "A BARGAIN, For Sale, BAGATELLE BOARD (complete), new.—Apply Tuck's Temperance Bar, 1, Victoria Buildings, Kingswood"

From the Western Daily Press - Friday 07 December 1894, page 2: "CARPENTERS.— A good FIXER Wanted for a short time.— Apply Tuck's Bar, Kingswood."

From the Coventry Evening Telegraph - Saturday 19 January 1895 page 3: TUCK'S Temperance Bar, and Coffee and Dining Rooms, 22, WEST ORCHARD, COVENTRY- This new Establishment will be opened on WEDNESDAY, Jan. 23rd, 1895. Hop Ale, Hop and Dandelion Stout, Herb Beer, Ginger Beer, Ginger Brandy, Lemonade, Shandy Gaff, Quinine and Orange, Pineapple Cyder, and Sarsaparilla. Also 15 different kinds of Fruit Syrups, 1d. per glass, wholesale and retail. Hot Dinners. Hot Tea and Coffee, 5.30 a.m.— G. YATES, Proprietor.

From the South Wales Echo - Wednesday 19 February 1896, page 1: "FOR Sale, a good useful Cob, suit any tradesman: can be seen any day after 5 p.m.—Tuck's Bar, Clifton-street."

From the Gloucester Journal - Saturday 22 February 1896, page 4: "TO be Sold, old-established profitable Business and Sole Agency for Tuck’s Temperance Drinks; small capital required: no previous knowledge necessary.—Apply W. Phillips, 51, Westgate Street, Gloucester."

From the Bristol Mercury - Saturday 04 July 1896, page 3: "Bankrupts from last night's gazette - Receiving Orders: Hill,  William H., trading as H. Tuck, Clifton street, in Cardiff, temperance drink manufacturer."

From the South Wales Echo - Wednesday 15 July 1896, page 2:  "TEMPERANCE DRINKS. A Bad Business Arrangement.  Today a meeting of creditors of Mr Wm. Henry Hill, temperance drink and cordial manufacturer, Clifton-street, Cardiff, was called to be held in the Official Receiver's office, Cardiff, but a quorum did not attend. Debtor's liabilities are stated to be £292 16s 9d, and his assets £34 17s 4d, less £14 8s 2d due to preferential creditors, leaving nets assets of £20 9s 2d, with a deficiency of £272 7s 7d. Debtor attributed his failure to taking over the liabilities of the late Mr Wm. Howe, from whom he bought the business and undertaking at an excessive price. He was formerly a fireman at Bute Docks, and took over the business of Mr Howe on that gentleman's death in 1895. As there was no meeting no resolution was passed, and the estate remains in the bands of the Official Receiver." It seems that part of Hill's agreement was to pay Howe's widow 10s per week and this proved unsustainable.

I so happens that in 1896 there was a massive crack down by the authorities on so called Temperance drinks which could be sold on unlicensed premises, many of which contained a lot more than the permitted 2% proof spirits. This would seriously affect the trade and many grocers and other retailers were prosecuted.

From the Gloucester Citizen - Friday 7 May 1897 page 2: "If you want a genuine Drink, call at Tuck's Temperance Bar 51, Westgate Street, Gloucester.

In the same paper Tuesday 19 October 1897, page 2: "TUCK’S Temperance Bar, 51, Westgate Street, Gloucester. —Wheatley’s celebrated Hop Bitters, wholesale and retail. Good Beds and Refreshments. Proprietor—H. J. Humphries." This advertisement ran for all of May and June 1897.

By 1898 there were also bars in Gower Street, Swansea, and Bridge Street, Pontypridd.

There was a Tuck's Railway Temperance Hotel at 138 Fisherton Street, Salisbury in June 1905 (The Salisbury Times - Friday 2 June 1905 page 1). The hotel was also mentioned in the same paper on 24 Feb 1899, 14 June 1901, and Wiltshire Times 16 May 1908, it lasted a good while. This place was run by a Mrs. Edith Tuck until at least 1920. It seems this place isn't part of the Tuck's Temperance franchise. Edith was daughter of an Engine driver named Abel J. Tuck and is wife Sarah who ran the rooms previously. I cannot find a family connection here so the name seems just coincidence.

There was another outlet in Lake Road, Portsmouth in 1901.

2 Gallon Stoneware Tap Jar Tucks3.jpgTucks4.jpg
Printed (in shield): TUCKS / DRINKS / WILLWAY STREET / BEDMINSTER; (under shield) This Jar is the property of TUCK & Co. / Buying or Selling the same is Illegal.
2 / (potter's stamp) / B94 on shoulder.

Potter:  Hawley Bros. / Bristol.
Image courtesy Aled Rees.

Stoneware Ginger Beer Bottle Tucks1.jpg
Printed: TUCKS / ELECTRIC / Ginger Beer / KINGSWOOD / AND / BRISTOL.



Potter:  Price / 0 / Bristol. (Honey glaze, internal screw stopper). Image courtesy Miles Griffin.

Stoneware Ginger Beer Bottle Tucks2.jpg
Printed (In diamond shape): * /  TUCKS / GINGER BEER / PONTYPRIDD / *.



Potter:  ?  (White glaze). Image courtesy Aled Rees.

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