BEFORE supermarkets, most towns had a couple of wine and spirit merchants who created their own beverages. For instance, Colin Bainbridge in Darlington has in his collection a label from a Firth’s “Olde Boys Scotch” bottle.
That would abbreviate as OBS, so one wonders if Mr Firth was cannily trying to cash in on the renown of Peases’ BOS.
JINGOISTIC LABEL: Firth's of Post House Wynd used an image of Darlington's Boer War Memorial on Scotch bottles
Firth’s story goes back to 1828 when James Dee began manufacturing lemonade from his well on the south side of Skinnergate. In 1850, he was bought out by 21-year-old Thomas Firth who carried on as a “teetotal brewery” specialising in ginger beer, which was probably brewed on the premises even though the well was soon closed as its water was too polluted for human consumption.
Firth’s moved into alcohol, selling his ale and porter “in casks of six gallons and upwards, to suit families”. Because of the polluted nature of well water, in those days it was often healthier for youngsters to drink beer.
Thomas was succeeded by his son, William Smith Firth, whose brewery and blenderie on Post House Wynd grew, employing seven men and stretching through to Buckton’s Yard.
Originally, Firth’s had an image of Locomotion No 1 on their labels, but after the Boer War Memorial was unveiled in St Cuthbert’s churchyard in 1905, they switched to a more jingoistic design showing a soldier thrusting his rifle forward, as can be seen on the OBS label.
TODAY'S VIEW: Post House Wynd, Darlington, where William Firth once had his brewery
Firth’s was taken over in the early 1920s by J Swenden and Co, another Darlington drinks manufacturer, which in 1955 was taken over by Winterschladen, the Middlesbrough off-licence. Winterschladen ended brewing in Post House Wynd, but Firth’s original teetotal brewery is now the home of the Health Food Shop – where they still sell ginger beer.
Do you have any interesting local bottles? Please let us know. Email chris.lloyd@nne.co.uk
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