George and Henry Pond took over the Tea, Coffee, Grocery and Wine and Spirit business at the Bridge House, 1 High Street, Chippenham on the 30th Oct. 1868.
"Bridge House,
Chippenham, November 2nd 1868 - G. & H. POND HAVING succeeded Mr.
ANSTEY in his old established Tea, Coffee, Grocery and Wine and Spirit
Business, beg leave to solicit from the Public a continuance of their
favours, and at the same time their recommendation. They are resolved to
buy in the best Markets, to select Goods of the first quality, and to be
satisfied with a fair remunerative profit, feeling assured that this
course, together with a careful attention to all commands, will ensure the
patronage of all classes of the community." The license for the sale of
wine & spirits was transferred at the petty sessions of Thurs. Nov 5th
1868.
George William Pond
was born in King's Lynn, Norfolk in 1835, bapt. 8th Apr., son of a
silversmith, James Pond and his wife Charlotte Youels, who lived at 35
High Street, King's Lynn. George married whilst living in Islington on 1st
July 1865 at Barnet Church, by the Rev. Bell, to Mary Ann, daughter of
Thomas Ruscoe, Esq., of Underhill House, Barnet, North London.
Henry Pond was
George's younger brother, born 1840. On 2nd December 1868 Henry Pond of
Chippenham married Maria Amelia, fifth daughter of the late Mr. William
Bagg, a Wine Merchant, of Colchester, at Marylebone Church, London, by the
Rev. Collier. Unfortunately Henry died on the 14th Oct. 1871 in London,
where he had been a grocer at 33 Marchmont Street, Grays Inn Lane, St.
Pancras, London. It seems that Henry's partnership with George lasted only
until his marriage. Maria Amelia re-married to Richard Baldwin on 1st
Sept. 1881 at St. George's, Tufnell Park, Islington. Richard was a widower
and Maria was his housekeeper.
George and Mary had 6 boys: George Ruscoe Pond (b.
1866, Clerkenwell); Herbert James Pond (b. 1868, Camberwell); Henry Thomas
Pond (b. 1872, Chippenham); Arthur Edward Pond (b. 1874, Chippenham);
Ernest Harold Pond (b. 1878, Chippenham) and Maurice Silver Pond (b. 1881,
Chippenham). Unfortunately Henry Thomas Pond died in Chippenham in 1890
aged 17.
George William Pond died on 3rd Dec. 1915 leaving his
estate to his widow Mary Ann. She died in Bath on 26th April 1933 at 1
Chilton Road, at the amazing age of 94. George was, for some years, a
member of the Town Council and was Mayor from 1880-1881. George's son
Herbert James and his wife Penelope ran Pond's Stores after his father's
death. Herbert James died on 5th March 1942 at 37 Boulevard,
Weston-Super-Mare. Pond's Stores at Bridge House continued until around
1961 from whence it disappears from the telephone directories.
Usher's Wiltshire Brewery
acquired Pond's Stores, in the 1930's, making extensive alterations in
1935, and installed Mr. W. S. Johnson as manager. Unfortunately Mr.
Johnson's wife, Ivy Rose Frances suffered from depression and gassed
herself in the kitchen on 25th August 1936. They had only been in
Chippenham 4 weeks having arrived from Cricklade. They had been married 10
years and had 4 kids.
In June 1940, Harry Day, secretary of Usher's Wiltshire
Brewery, and the manager of Pond's Stores, Frederick Gale, were prosecuted
for selling liquors out of hours. Gale was fined £4 with two guineas costs
as Day was miles away at the time.
Former
Racing Motorist
"Many Bathonians will be interested to hear that Mr.
"Ted" Matthews, a former member of the Bath Motor-Cycling Club, who left
the city some years ago, is now "mine host" at Pond's Stores, Chippenham.
"Ted," whose parents live at Bath, is exceedingly well known in sporting
circles. In his younger days he won many prizes at motor-cycling races." (Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette - Saturday
31 August 1940 p. 3.)
|
| 2 Gallon Stone Jar |  |
| Impressed: G. W. POND /
CHIPPENHAM . Potter: Powell Bristol. D. Sutton Collection. . |
| 1/2 & 1 Gallon Stone Jars |   |
| Impressed:
G. W. POND / Wine & Spirit Merchant / CHIPPENHAM . Potter: Powell Bristol. . |
| 1/2 & 1 Gallon Stone Jars |  |
| Printed: G. W. POND /
CHIPPENHAM . Potter: Powell Bristol. . |
| 1 Gallon Stone Jar |  |
| Printed: G. W. POND / WINE
& SPIRIT MERCHANT / CHIPPENHAM . Potter: Powell Bristol. . |