Hardy & Son Chemists

I recall being told by my mother as a young boy that the Hardy family were chemists in England. I always thought that sounded quite impressive. When I came across a container labelled Hardy's indigestion remedy one day I thought gosh that might have been made by our family. This was not the case. However now thanks to Peter Hardy who is directly descended from Robert Hardy the founder of Hardy & Son Chemists, we have the full story of this company and the family members behind a very successful family business that operated for over 100 years.

Robert Ebenezer ("Ebbie") Hardy

(Story written by Peter Hardy)

Robert was born in Ely, Cambridgeshire on 22 December 1836. His parents were George, aged 45 and Susan, aged 42.

Robert was the youngest of the family. He had 7 elder sisters and 3 elder brothers, one of which was Charles Hardy, the well-travelled and fascinating Hardy who settled in New Zealand with his wife, Alice, in 1865.

In order of birth they were:

Sarah, Susan, Ann, Elizabeth, Mary, Hannah, George, Harriet, Charles, John and Robert.

Their Father (George Hardy 1791-1869) was a Fellmonger, Tawer and Woolstapler. A Fellmonger was “a dealer in hides or skins, particularly sheepskins, who might also prepare skins for tanning”. A Tawer was “one who taws; a dresser of whitleather” and a Wool-Stapler “sorts and grades wool and sells it on to manufacturers”.

The family lived in a timber framed jettied cottage in Broad Street, Ely, Cambridgeshire. Unfortunately the line of cottages were demolished in the 1930’s so that the entrance to the wood yard of A Wood & Co ( ! ) could be widened.

The photo below shows the Broad St cottages.

Behind Broad Street was Blakeman’s Leather Factory and the skins from the Hardy’s, and other Fellmongers in Broad Street, were sent to Blakeman’s for tanning.

Robert’s parents were nonconformists and were founder members of Ely Strict Baptist Church in 1858. For some years George was a Deacon, but was eventually removed from office due to a disagreement – he died a few weeks later 1869. Despite their nonconformity, George and Sarah’s children were baptised at Ely Cathedral. Apparently, this would have been normal at the time.

It’s been said that Robert was always known as “Ebbie” by the family. Certainly the early census records show him simply as “Ebenezer Hardy”.

The early 1840’s was a busy period for the Hardy household. In October 1840, (Robert was nearly 3) his sister Sarah married Mr Joseph Sturton, who was a Wholesale Chemist and Druggist in Cambridge. The Sturton’s were an influential land owning family in Cambridge and soon became closely involved with the Hardy’s over a number of years. Sturton Street in Cambridge is named after them.

A year after the marriage, Robert’s elder brothers George (13) and Charles (9) were at boarding school at Prospect Row, Cambridge – some 17 miles from Ely.

In 1842 Sarah and Joseph Sturton had a daughter called Ann. Unfortunately, Sarah died the following year leaving Joseph with their baby daughter. More on the Sturton’s and their connection with the Hardy’s later.

In late childhood, Robert and Charles appear to have attended Ely Grammar School, now called The King’s School. It was established in 11th century to educate boy Choristers for Ely Cathedral - King Edward the Confessor was educated at the school. Many middle-class businessmen with money were aspiring to join the upper-classes around this time, and it appears George may have one of them.

In 1847 George Hardy paid for Robert’s brother, Charles aged 15, to serve a 5 year apprenticeship to learn the business of “Chymist and Druggist” in a place called Charleton upon Medlock, very close to the large city of Manchester, in the north west of England, well known for its cotton mills. Two years earlier the Eastern Counties Railway had arrived in Ely, and this may have allowed Charles to make the 150 mile journey.

Some short years later Robert was also apprenticed to a Chemist, in the market town of March in Cambridgeshire. Why did George send two of his son’s to be apprenticed to learn Chemistry ? Was he interested in improving the way in which animal hides were cured ?

Much more likely was the influence of his son- in- law Joseph Sturton -the Chemist. George may well have been impressed by the Sturton’s social position and seen chemistry as an enterprising and lucrative career path for his sons. It seems Joseph may also have been a nonconformist like George.

On 25th February 1850, Robert’s elder brother, George Hardy, set sail for Australia from Plymouth aboard The Countess of Yarborough . Robert was 13. It must have been a momentous event.

Two years later on the 27th June 1852 Charles also sailed for Australia from Plymouth on The Statesman.

It would have been interesting to be a fly on the wall of the Hardy household. Charles would only have just completed his 5 year apprenticeship the previous year. Did they leave with their father’s blessing ? –we’ll probably never know.

At much the same time, Robert started work in Manchester as an “Improver” for Messrs Jewsbury & Brown, Pharmaceutical Chemist & Soft Drink Manufacturers in Market Street. The J & B main factory & laboratories were less than one UK mile from Chorlton–on-Medlock where Charles had served his apprenticeship –though it doesn’t seem like the brothers were ever in the area at the same time.

Around 1859 Robert moved south from Manchester to Salisbury in Wiltshire, to work as a Pharmaceutical Dispenser. Salisbury is a medieval cathedral city, nine miles from Stonehenge. It shares some similarities with Ely, and Robert must have felt somewhat at home.

Then, in 1862 at the age of 25, Robert set up his own business for the first time, in a shop at No 3 Catherine Street. A notice appeared in The Salisbury & Winchester Journal for Saturday 10th May 1862:

“RE Hardy informs the inhabitants of Salisbury and it’s vicinity that he has commenced business as a DISPENSING and FAMILY CHEMIST and most respectfully solicits share of their patronage, which it will at all times be his constant study to merit. Being deeply impressed with the responsibility attached to the preparation of Prescriptions, &c., he is determined to supply none but the purest Drugs and Chemicals of the finest quality; and hopes, with scrupulous care, combined with lengthened experience, to obtain their confidence and support. R. E. H. having been three years Dispenser at the Salisbury Provident Dispensary, and formerly with Messrs. Jewsbury and Brown, 113, Market-street, Manchester, this will be a sufficient guarantee of his competency. Genuine Patent Medicines, Sauces, Spices, and Pickles. A Choice Assortment of all kinds of Perfumery and every Requisite for the Toilet. N.B.—Horse and Cattle Medicines, and Oils and Colours.”

Robert was setting up in competition against J. W. Newton, who was already trading as a Chemist & Mineral Water Manufacturer in Catherine Street.

Years later, Robert’s youngest daughter, Effie, recorded that he “opened a shop of his own on a capital of about £100 only”. However, he “so badly needed more from his father that a son-in-law, Mr. Sturton, was sent to Salisbury to see if it was wise and not just throwing good money away to lend or give him another £100. Sturton thought it wise so he quickly had the £200. Soon after this his father died and he came into more money and on that I suppose he married”.

Effie’s reference to “Mr. Sturton” relates again to Joseph Sturton who married Sarah Hardy. He was obviously still a major influence in the Hardy family.

Meanwhile, Charles was leading a very different life. In February 1862, he wrote to the Editor of the Los Angeles Star from San Antonio de Santa Anna with his views on the American Civil War (1882-1865). Google shows Santa Anna, San Antonio to be in Texas. Apparently it was the headquarters of the Military District of Texas – is this where Charles wrote his letter ?

Charles returned to England sometime between 1862 and 1865. The American Civil War raged from 1861 to 1865.

Less than two years after setting up in business, Robert married Emily Ann Bonner in 1864. Emily grew up in Upavon, a small village on Salisbury Plain where her father was a Butcher.

Charles Hardy is thought to have been working for Robert at the time – could he have been at their wedding ? Certainly, when Charles married Alice Thomas in the following year, Charles’s residence is shown on their marriage certificate as Salisbury. Just a month after their wedding, Charles and Alice emigrated from London to Auckland aboard the Aliquis.

In 1866 Robert’s mother, Susan Hardy, died. Only a month later, the first of Robert and Emily’s children was born: Susan Jessie Hardy. Three years later, Robert’s father also died (1869). Both parents are buried in the nonconformist section of Ely Cemetery in Beech Lane.

Meanwhile, Robert was growing and diversifying the business. In addition to selling medicines, drugs, chemicals and other requisites, he was now advertising himself as a Family Chemist and Wine Merchant !

He’d become an agent for the Cadiz, Oporto & Light Wine Association. Ironically, I worked for the producers of Harveys Bristol Cream Sherry for some 25 years, completely unaware of this small connection !

Robert started manufacturing mineral waters for the first time in the 1870’s. He’d expanded the business into 5 Catherine Street and used 3 Catherine Street for his wholesale trade. In 1875 the local newspaper contained an advert for:

“Hardy’s Lemonade & Soda Water –Manufactory: 5 Catherine Street., Salisbury”.

In the late 18th century Johann Schweppe had developed a process to manufacture carbonated mineral water.

By the time Robert entered the market, there’d been a gradual increase in leisure pursuits and soft drinks were now popular with rich and poor alike. Competition must have been stiff as most towns had several producers. By 1878 Robert had increased mineral water production and was advertising Soda Water, Seltzer Water, Potash Water, Lemonade, Ginger Beer and Ginger Ale – still from premises in Catherine Street.

Hardy & Son Ginger Beer was bottled in screw topped stoneware bottles marked “Old Style Brewed”. This shows it would have been produced using yeast to naturally ferment prepared ginger spice, sugar and water. It was almost certainly non-alcoholic.

Other mineral waters were bottled in glass, which included the well-known Codd bottle. When filled under pressure, a marble was pushed against a rubber washer in the neck, creating a seal.

Examples are shown in the photo below.

When we visited The Otago Settlers Museum at Dunedin in 2014 there was a very good display of mineral water manufacturing equipment used by Thompson & Co during the nineteenth century. (Love to go back there – great museum !)

In 1879 Robert would have received the sad news from Melbourne, Australia that his elder brother George had died, at the age of 52.

The 1881 census shows Robert aged 45 living at 3 & 5 Catherine Street, with wife Emily and now with 7 children. They were most likely living over the shops.

It also shows a John (William) Hardy (1866 – 1911) as “Scholar” aged 14 . Willy was Robert Hardy’s nephew. His father, John Hardy, had taken over the Fellmongering business in Ely and Willy had moved to Salisbury as a schoolboy. He was probably known as “Willy”, to distinguish him from his elder brother John George Hardy (why couldn’t they think up more original names ? !)

In November 1885, Emily (née Bonner) would have received the shocking news that her only remaining brother, Francis had died at Upavon on Salisbury Plain, aged only 44. She would still have been mourning the death of her mother who’d died only seven month previously.

Francis death must have been a huge tragedy for the Bonner family. The eldest boy, Henry, had died years earlier in an unfortunate accident involving a horse and carriage. In turn, both Henry and Frances had been trained by their father, John, in the family butchery business.

When John retired, Frances had taken over all John’s business interests. John was 78 when Francis died and he had little option but to auction all the Bonner family interests in Upavon. This included the butcher’s shop, the Ship Inn, adjoining buildings, other land and cottages in Upavon.

This photo of Catherine Street was probably taken around 1890 and shows three of Hardy’s “Travellers” (Travelling Salesmen) with horse and traps.

Unfortunately, the only Salesman who can be positively identified at present, is “Willy” - the figure on the far right in a top hat. He was a traveller for over 20 years. It’s been said he was sacked because he kept getting drunk, was thrown out of his lodgings, and died destitute in a common lodging house in Winchester Street. However, it appears he actually died at the age of 45 in Salisbury Infirmary Hospital and his probate shows he left £392. 7s 1d !

Robert’s son, George Bonner Hardy is standing in the shop doorway. He would have been in his early 20’s.

Next, Robert took on premises in Brown Street, connected to Catherine Street by a small alley.

This photo of Brown Street taken in 1890, shows Robert (54) with beard, top hat, and wearing a light coloured coat.

Young George Bonner Hardy seems to be absent. He was probably in Penge, South London, learning to be a Pharmaceutical Chemist.

“Willy”, now aged 24, is standing beside the second cart. He’s looking rather self-important and wearing a dark suit and top hat.

The cart near Willy is laden with heavy wooden mineral water cases. Many of Hardy’s customers were in areas across Salisbury Plain, the New Forest and into Dorset. One wonders how far did these horse & carts travelled.

At the time the photo was taken, Charles and family were living at Dairy Flat in Auckland, New Zealand. A new school opened 1890 at Horseshoe Bush, in a house that Charles had placed at the disposal of the Board of Education, so that many children could have a shorter journey to school.

Back in Catherine Street, the 1891 census indicates some of the family had left home, leaving Susan (25) and Ada (21) - both shown as Shopwomen. Effie (16) and Alfred (14) were at school and Willy, now 24, a Commercial Traveller.

Lavina and Lilian Hardy

Both Lavinia and Lilian had chosen to train as Teachers and they both went on to have distinguished careers. Robert and Emily must have been very proud. I thought it might be worth briefly describing the sister’s achievements.

Lavinia Hardy

By 1891 Lavinia (known as Nina) had become a teacher in Deptford, London. She later studied at The University of Edinburgh’s Art Faculty and became a “Teacher Lecturer on Education” in Edinburgh, before moving back to London as a Training College Lecturer.

In 1915 she was admitted as a Fellow to The Royal Geographical Society. She was one of just 16 women teachers and lecturers admitted to the society and the fact that they were women lead to much recorded controversy. Throughout the Great War she lectured at various training colleges across the country.

Lilian Hardy

Lavinia’s younger sister, Lilian, trained to be a Kindergarten Teacher in London during 1899. By 1901 she’d also moved to Edinburgh, and became a Governess and Kindergarten Teacher at a grand house at 7 Charlotte Square. Today, the building is known as "The Georgian House", and is open to the public in the ownership of The National Trust for Scotland.

Influenced by her former employer and Patrick Geddes (Scottish biologist, sociologist, geographer, philanthropist and innovator town planner) she left Charlotte Square to become a pioneer in the Kindergarten movement. She spent the rest of her working life improving conditions for some of the poorest children in Edinburgh.

In 1906 she established with help, St Saviour’s Child Garden, a Free Kindergarten in the poverty-stricken Canongate area of Edinburgh. The nursery soon moved to a building of its own, and we know that Lileen corresponded with Patrick Geddes (later Sir Patrick Geddes) who gave advice on the design of the actual garden.

The above photo shows Lileen with the children in her kindergarten.

In 1909 Lileen, as she was now calling herself, wrote a publication “The history of a Slum Child” and in 1912 a book called “Diary of a Free Kindergarten”. This fund raising project was published by Gay & Hancock Ltd.

Many of Lileen’s educational theories are still quoted as best practice today. As a result of her work, the Kindergarten movement flourished in Edinburgh. Her book is still well-regarded and reproductions can be purchased online.

Today, the Museum of Childhood in Edinburgh has a section on nursery education featuring Lileen Hardy and displaying the “Diary of a Free Kindergarten”, “The History of the Slum Child” and an early smock. They also have other items in an archive.

Lileen retired in 1927 after being in charge of St Saviours Child-Garden for 21 years and throughout the Great War.

At least one of Robert’s daughters (known by some as “the bossy Miss Hardy’s”) assisted with the women’s suffrage movement - yet to be investigated.

Meanwhile, Robert’s business expanded yet further. Adverts in 1894 show he was now a Wholesale & Retail Beer Dealer in addition to being a Chemist and Druggist. Under the terms of the licence he could sell 4 ½ gallons of beer in casks or 1 dozen reputed Pints from the premises in Brown Street.

In August 1896 Emily’s father, John Bonner died aged 89. He’d previously moved to live in Exeter Street, Salisbury, not far from Robert and Emily. His will is complicated but it appears his three daughters Emily, Hephzibah & Julia inherited from his will enabling further investment in the business.

In addition to mineral waters, Robert must also have been bottling Champagne Cider because in Sept 1896 a Mineral Water Manufacturer in Dorset was fined one Shilling for selling Champagne Cider that they’d bottled in Hardy’s bottles.

The expansion of the business continued and a toy & confectionery department was set up in late Victorian times. Making confectionary was hot and physical work as the sugar had to be boiled and pulled to make sweets and toffee. Chocolate was also popular. It was a boom time for high street confectioners and it certainly provided employment for some of Robert’s daughters.

Tragedy for the family arrived in 1900. On the 19th December Robert died after a short illness - just two days before his 64th birthday. He’d been confined to his home for a month suffering from an “affection of the lungs”.

His funeral and burial took place at London Road Cemetery on Christmas Eve 1900. According to the local newspaper, “the proceedings were of an extremely plain and simple character, and the floral tributes were conspicuous by their absence”.

There were four mourning coaches. Attendees were his brother John (from Ely), his son George, and daughters Lavinia, Ada, and Effie. Lavinia must have travelled down from Scotland.

John’s son, Willy (the Travelling Salesmen) was also there, together with Robert’s business associates, friends and employees.

It’s surprising that Robert’s wife, Emily, was not present. Neither was Susan, Lilian or Alfred. However, Christmas Eve would have been a busy time for the business and this may provide an explanation for some abcences.

The business that Robert had set up, was very much a Victorian family affair, typical of the period. Queen Victoria died just 33 days after Robert, on 22 January 1901.

Robert’s Will instructed that his children, George and Susan, be employed to manage the business. George to be paid a salary of two pounds and Susan a salary of thirty shillings per week, with an annual bonus depending on net profits.

The census taken the year after Robert’s death shows Susan (now 33) as “Mineral Water Manufacturer and Confectioner - Employer”. She was unmarried and living with her mother Emily aged 67 at Robert & Emily’s house, “Kincardine”, 15 Southampton Road, Salisbury.

George (now 31) is shown as “Mineral Water Manufacturer – Employer” (no mention of “Chemist”) living with his wife Georgina at 3 & 5 Catherine Street with their young family, George Lesley (3) and Marjorie (3 months).

The above photo is of George and Georgina Hardy and is dated circa 1940.

Members of both the Hardy and Bonner families had money invested in the business. Several of these relatives were strong progressive women who had a prominent hand in shaping the business as it moved into the new century.

The photo above shows the children of George and Georgina Hardy, being from the left Roger (father of Peter Hardy), Rhona, Doreen, Marjorie, and George Leslie Hardy.

Susan was four years older than her brother George. Family rumour has it that George never completed his Chemistry qualifications and this would have been a concern for the family.

Susan and George carried the business through WW1 and at some stage, Susan became Managing Director.

The above photo shows brothers George L and Roger B Hardy playing in a caravan that belonged to their Aunt Susan Hardy. Photo taken in Salisbury circa 1910.

Emily Died in 1929 aged 95.

Emily Hardy

The last Hardy to lead the company was George’s son (Robert’s grandson), George Leslie Hardy – always known as Leslie. He’d lived with Susan and Emily at “Kincardine” as a schoolboy.

Hardy’s was still very much a family business. My father, Roger Hardy, joined the company after WW2 and Leslie’s son, Richard in the 1950’s – both becoming Directors.

But by the 1960’s things were changing. Bright new Supermarkets were becoming popular with the public. Manufacturer’s products sold direct to the consumer, meant less need for “middle men” like wholesale grocers.

Hardy & Son Limited endeavoured to adapt, but in 1971 the business was eventually sold to Upward & Rich Ltd, Wholesale Grocers, on the Isle of White. Upward & Rich were bought by a large conglomerate a short while later.

The enterprise Robert started in 1862 had, for over one hundred years, provided employment for three generations of the Hardy family as well as local people.

________________________

My thanks to Peter Hardy ( in the middle of the above photo) for his great story of the life and times of "Ebbie" Hardy and Hardy & Son. Peter and his lovely wife Liz visited NZ a few years ago and as you can see from the above we had the pleasure of meeting and spending some time looking at Hardy family history, much of which was gathered by my uncle David Hardy ( left of Peter).