Out Of The Blue Artifacts A Library of a lifetime of collecting
Mr F. Kiff – Aerated Mineral Water Bottle – Nantyglo.
A stoneware aerated mineral water bottle.
Made from stoneware. Size 6 1/2″ x 2 1/2″ inches.
Dated to 1890’s?
Mr Frederick Kiff – Aerated Mineral Water Manufacturer of Nantyglo.
Mr Frederick Kiff was born in 1861 at Eglwysilan, Pontypridd. He was the son of Mr Thomas Kiff, a Farmer at Eglwysilan, Pontyridd and Mrs Mary Kiff nee Jones of Bassaleg, Newport. On the 1871 census the Kiff family were living at Pentrebach Road, Eglwysilan, Pontypridd.
In 1883 Mr Frederick Kiff married Miss Sarah Jones, born 1866 at Nantyglo, Monmouthshire. Miss Sarah Jones was the daughter of Mr James Jones a colliery carpenter of Nantyglo and Mrs Mary Jones of Llangattock, Breconshire.
The Jones Family.
On the 1871 census Mr James Jones and his wife Mary and family were living at Twynderrin, Nantyglo. The family consisted of – Master William Jones, born 1861. Master Benjamin Jones, born 1867. Miss Elizabeth Jones, born 1859. Miss Mary Jones, born 1863. Miss Sarah Jones, born 1866 and Miss Margaret Jones, born 1871. The family later moved to the Large Houses, Nantyglo, Monmouthshire.
The Nantyglo Connection.
On the 1881 census Mr Frederick Kiff and his elder brother Mr Alexander Lewis Kiff had left Pontypridd and were living at Brynmawr. They were both working at the tin works and living in lodgings at 54 Bailey Street, Brynmawr with Samuel and Margaret Nurse and family.
The F. Kiff, Aerated Mineral Water Company.
In about 1882 Mr Frederick Kiff met Miss Sarah Jones, they got married in 1883 and set up an Aerated Mineral Water Plant at Nantyglo. I don’t know where the works were, though the family were living at Limestone Road, Nantyglo.
On the 1891 census Mr Frederick Kiff listed as being a tin plate sorter and Mrs Sarah Kiff listed as being a Mineral Water Manufacturer and were living at 7 Limestone Road with their family – Master Garfield Kiff, born 1887. Master Frederick Kiff, born 1890 and Miss Eveline Kiff, born 1884. Also living at the same address were Sarah’s father Mr James Jones, a tin plate worker and her brother and sister, Mr James H. Jones, born 1874 and Miss Margaret Jones, born 1871 as stated above. Sarah’s brother Mr James H. Jones was the haulier for their mineral water company.
The Closure of the Plant.
In April 1894 the Aerated Mineral Water Company business ceased and the Mineral Water Plant was advertised as for sale (as seen in the small advertisement above).
Messrs Havard & Morgan.
In May 1895 Messrs Havard and Morgan purchased the old Aerated Water Plant from Mr Frederick Kiff and his wife Mrs Sarah Kiff. Messrs Havard and Morgan consisted of the partnership of Mr William Griffiths Morgan and Mr Thomas Havard.
The following is a Link to – The Havard & Morgan Story.
Frederick and Sarah Kiff at Pontypridd.
In 1895 after the sale of their Aerated Mineral Water company, Mr Frederick Kiff and his wife Sarah and family moved back to his home town of Pontypridd and was living at 11 Chapel Street, Treforest. They added to their family with the addition of – Master Herbert Kiff, born 1897. Master Sylvanus Kiff, born 1898 and Miss Edith Kiff, born 1894 at Nantyglo. On the 1911 census there were more children – Master Kenneth Kiff, born 1903. Master Harold Kiff, born 1906 and Master Thomas Kiff, born 1909.