Yeovil's Virtual Museum

Thomas Jenvey

Licensee and Mineral Water Manufacturer

 

Thomas William Frederick Jenvey was born in Bothenhampton, Dorset, in the summer of 1853 and baptised in Holy Trinity church, Bothenhampton, on 28 August 1853. He was the only son of the seven children of gardener Thomas Jenvey (1810-c1860), originally from Lymington, Hampshire, and Louisa née Holley (1823-1891). Thomas and Louisa's children were Fanny (b1843), Louisa (b1845), Emma (b1847), Caroline Holley (b1849), Harriet (b1851), Thomas and Ann Eliza (b1859).

By the time of the 1861 census, Thomas' father had died and Louisa, together with her six youngest children, including 7-yeasr-old Thomas, had moved to Bridport, Dorset. Louisa, by now aged 38, gave her occupation as a braider, as did 14-year-old Emma and 11-year-old Caroline. Thomas was listed as a scholar. In the 1881 census, 27-year-old Thomas was recorded as a boarder living in the home of James and Mary Fifoot at 18 York Street, Bristol. He gave his occupation as a flax weaver.

On 4 February 1893, 39-year-old Thomas married 36-year-old Elizabeth Hannah Vallins (1856-1936) at Easton, St Gabriel, Gloucestershire. Elizabeth was the daughter of miller John Vallins (1835-1894) and Elizabeth née Whettam (b1831). Thomas and Elizabeth were to have a son, Thomas John Jenvey (1893-1923), born in Stourpaine, Dorset.

The 1901 census recorded Thomas, Elizabeth and Thomas Jnr living at 1 Linden Terrace, Weymouth. 47-yerar-old Thomas gave his occupation as a Mineral Water Manufacturer.

it is not known exactly when Thomas moved his family to Yeovil, but certainly the Yeovil Directory of 1907 recorded him as the landlord of the Rifleman's Arms Inn, 24 Park Street.

The 1911 census recorded the family at the Rifleman's Arms Inn. Thomas recorded his occupation as a "Beer House Keeper & Mineral Water Manufacturer". The Mineral Water Manufactory is known to have been next door to the pub, at 22 Park Street. Elizabeth gave her occupation as "Assistant" and presumably running the pub during the day while Thomas worked in the manufactory next door. Thomas Jnr gave his occupation as "Assistant in Mineral Water Manufactory".

Above left is a Codd bottle with T Jenvey & Son's impressed label. In 1872, British soft-drink maker Hiram Codd of Camberwell, London, designed and patented a bottle designed specifically for carbonated drinks. The Codd-neck bottle was designed and manufactured to enclose a marble and a rubber washer / gasket in the neck. The bottles were filled upside down, and pressure of the gas in the bottle forced the marble against the washer, sealing in the carbonation. The bottle was pinched into a special shape, as can be seen in the photo, to provide a chamber into which the marble was pushed to open the bottle. This prevented the marble from blocking the neck as the drink was poured.

Kelly's Directory of 1914 noted Thomas as the licensee of the Rifleman's Arms. While Kelly's Directory of 1919 noted "T Jenvey & Son, Mineral Water Manufacturers of 22 Park Street" and "Thomas Jenvey, beer retailer of 24 Park Street". Kelly's Directory of 1923 once again recorded Thomas as the licensee of the Rifleman's Arms.

Thomas Jenvey died on 11 December 1923 at Cotford Asylum - later know as Tone Vale Hospital. it was a psychiatric hospital located approximately 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) to the north west of Norton Fitzwarren, near Taunton, Somerset, in what is now the village of Cotford St Luke. Probate took place in London on 26 January 1924 and Thomas' estate was valued to £1,486 15s 9d  (around £107,000 at today's value).