H. K. Wightwick, W. Applegate & Sons, Usher & Co. Ltd

Wine & Spirit Merchant

• Date:
  • c.1870-1907 Henry King Wightwick & Co., 35 New Road, Calne.
  • c.1908-1911: W. Applegate & Sons, 35 New Road, Calne.
  • c.1915: Usher & Co. Ltd., 35 New Road, Calne.

    Henry King Wightwick was born in 1844, baptised at Codford St. Peter, Wilts. 8th Aug. 1844, son of the Rev. Henry Wightwick of Codford St. Peter and Sarah Armstrong King.

    Henry was a wine merchant whilst visiting the rectory in 1871, but he was certainly in Calne, at "The Stores", New Road, by May 1871, because at Calne Petty Sessions, Friday 12th May 1871, Aaron Angell was summoned for assaulting H. C. Hunt, barman at Messrs. Wightwick's wine stores. The defendant was also summoned for refusing to quit the house when requested. He was fined 5s and costs on both counts. So Wightwick's Wine Stores also had a public bar. Henry married Helen Emma Lightfoot, daughter of Edward Richard Lightfoot, miller of Hillingdon, at the parish church of Hillingdon, Middx. on 10th June 1879.

    As it turns out, there was an important trial at the County Court, Calne, on Friday 10th June 1870, where Mr. Wightwick was attempting to recover the cost of a ruined hogshead of claret, worth £35, from the Great Western Railway. Mr. Wightwick states that he has been in business about 6 months at this time, having taken it over from T. L. Henly. Also that he had gained his expertise whilst living with a firm in London. (Devizes and Wiltshire Gazette - Thursday 16 June 1870 p.2.) Unfortunately Henry lost his case.

   Henry and Helen had 7 children: Mary Lilian (b.1880); Margaret Emma (b.1882); Helen Sarah (b.1883); Katharine (b.1885); Alice Hope (b.24th July 1886, bapt. Cowley, Hillingdon, Sept.5th); Henry Edward (b.1892) and Winifred Joan (b.1893).

    Henry King Wightwick died in Calne on 30th March 1907 whilst still a Wine Merchant. After his death, his widow Helen moved to Codford St. Mary.

Half Gallon Stone Jar
Impressed: H. K. WIGHTWICK & Co. / Wine & Spirit Merchants / CALNE. Potter: Powell, Bristol. Photo courtesy Codd Tony.

1 Gallon Stone Jars
Impressed: H. K. WIGHTWICK & Co. / Wine & Spirit Merchants / CALNE. Potter: Powell, Bristol.

2 Gallon Stone Jar
Impressed: H. K. WIGHTWICK & Co. / Wine & Spirit Merchants / CALNE. Potter: Powell, Bristol. / 2 under potter's mark. Photo courtesy Codd Tony.

From the Wiltshire Times and Trowbridge Advertiser - Saturday 14 September 1907, page 3: CALNE: New Manager.— The wine and spirit business of the late Mr. Wightwick, recently purchased Messrs. W. Applegate and Sons, Trowbridge, will, at the end of the month, be managed Mr. James Brodribb, landlord of the Anchor Hotel, Warminster, where during a short stay he has become very popular.

Half gallon stoneware jar.
Printed:  (in banner) THIS JAR IS THE PROPERTY OF (around circle) WM APPLEGATE & SONS / CALNE (circle centre) WINE AND SPIRIT MERCHANTS. Manufactured without handle likely for wicker basket. Potter:  (not marked) B / 240* on shoulder. Photo courtesy Codd Tony.

By 1915 Applegate & Sons Calne branch had been taken over by Usher & Co. Ltd. Wm. Applegate & Sons, although based in Trowbridge, had a large chain of off-licenses throughout the West Country. Many of these had lasted until the period 1963-73 when they had been finally subsumed into the Usher's Wiltshire Brewery empire.

2 gallon stoneware jar.
Impressed: USHERS LD. / WINE MERCHANTS / CALNE Potter: Price / Bristol. 131 on shoulder. Photo courtesy Codd Tony.

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