1 CommentA Banbridge man who's mother hailed from Newry has amassed a serious collection of old stone bottles and jars, many of them from businesses who traded in the Newry area in the 1800's.
Neil Reid's collection includes bottles and jars from Newry's merchant past: Duncan Alderdice & Co, John Wallace & Co, John O'Hare and Son's, Newry Mineral water Company, Rices Newry and more. His collection of around 150 covers much of Ireland, from Strabane to Carlow, Kilkenny to Belfast and everywhere in between.
The stoneware bottles were produced approx 100-130 years ago and were all hand made. No two bottles are the same due to the processes involved, but the minor flaws are what adds to their charm.
Historically stone bottles were gradually replaced by mass produced glass bottles; the result of which is that many of the ‘stonies’ were buried in landfill sites or dumped in rivers and canal and can be difficult to locate.
The avid collector of Victorian Era stoneware / glassware who now lives in County Kildare is often home on the search for even more bottles, but two particular finds continue to elude him! One from Frontier Mineral Water Co Ltd Newry and the other from Magill & Thompson Newry.
As Neil says "I am frequently home in Co Down and when I am, I spend my time scouring antique shops and flea markets in search of these elusive bottles but am yet to strike gold.
"I started collecting these bottles as I have always had a keen interest in antiques and local history and after picking up a few of the stoneware bottles at various antique markets, I set out with the initial intention of gathering one from every county in Ireland. I have amassed a collection of approximately 150 bottles, from various corners of the country. I haven't quite managed to hit all the counties so far."
As well as the two bottles mentioned above he is still on the hunt for further Newry bottles / flagons. "If anyone has any Stoneware bottles / Cream pots and Pot lids from across Ireland (with product / place names stamped on), then please get in touch." and Neil adds "Good prices will be paid for good bottles."
The collector's not averse to the prospect of digging for buried bottles / pots so if anyone is aware of an old bottle dump on a farm or private land and is in a position to give permission he would welcome the opportunity to get his spade out.
You can contact him by email at Neilreid76@gmail.com or mobile at 00353 86 6006622
