Kirby & McKee – Mineral Water manufacturers of Bletchley 1908-1913
The firm of Kirby & McKee was a very short-lived drinks business, actually based in Fenny Stratford, selling their wares from somewhere in Victoria Road. Apart from a few stories about their accidents and transgressions in the local press, the only proof of their existence are the surviving bottles they used that have their name embossed on (and even those got them into trouble!) They never seem to have advertised at all.
There are two sizes of clear glass codd (marble) bottles, made by A. Alexander & Co., of Leeds & London and three sorts of crown-cap bottles, one of which is in green glass. All are embossed “KIRBY & MCKEE, BLETCHLEY” with the K&M initials in a belt logo.
Kirby and McKee went into partnership in June 1908, each providing £80 to set their business up. They are not listed in the Forbes Oldham Directory of Fenny Stratford, but that covers June 1908 to June 1909, so perhaps the entries for it had already been collated before the K&M company was formed.
Less than six months into business, they had two unfortunate incidents on the same day. From the Northampton Mercury, 25th December 1908:
“BLETCHLEY. Van Accident. On Monday evening, the North Bucks Harriers were passing through Bletchley along School-lane, they startled a horse attached to a mineral water delivery van longing to Messrs. Kirby and McKee, of Victoria road. The horse started down the hill into Far Bletchley, where it collided with the fence the side of the road, smashing up the van and distributing its contents over the road. The horse escaped with but little injury. Monday is certainly an unlucky day for Messrs. Kirby and McKee, for only that same morning they had found another of their horses dead in the stables.”
In the Buckingham Express of 13th March 1909, under the Fenny Stratford Petty Sessions news, it was noted that
“Stewart McKee, Fenny Stratford, pleaded guilty to driving a mineral water van in the town on Feb. 16th not having the lamps lighted. P.c. Ewles proved the charge. Fined 5s and costs 6s 6d. Mr T. G. Kirby did not adjudicate in this case.”
I cannot find any family connection between local grocer Thomas George Kirby and McKee’s business partner Percy Kirby. Why did Thomas George step out when this case was heard?
Percy E. Kirby was born 1879 in Semley, Wilts. and had previously been landlord of “The Rose & Crown”, at 2 High Street South, Dunstable. At the time of the 1911 census, he lived at 11 Victoria Road, Fenny Stratford, with his wife Bertha Augusta and daughter Doris Louise. Kirby was described as a ‘Mineral Water Manufacturer’. They had married in Wandsworth in 1898.
Stuart McKee was born in Armagh, Ireland in 1874. In the 1901 census, he was living at 9 West Road, Linslade, where he was described as a Licenced Victualler, with his wife and two children from her previous relationship. By the 1911 census, he was also living in Victoria Road, Fenny Stratford, but no number was given. He lived there with his wife, Rebecca, who was at least a decade older than him. He too was described as a ‘Mineral Water Manufacturer’.
Yet McKee left the partnership before that year was out. The entry in the London Gazette 5th January, 1912 reads:
“Notice is hereby given that the Partnership heretofore subsisting between us the under signed, Percy Edwin Kirby and Stewart McKee, both of Fenny Stratford, in the county of Buckingham, carrying on business as Mineral Water, Cordials, and Non-intoxicating Wines Manufacturers at Fenny Stratford aforesaid, under the style or firm of KIRBY AND MCKEE, has been dissolved as from the twenty-second day of December, one thousand nine hundred and eleven – Dated the 22nd day of December 1911. PERCY EDWIN KIRBY, STEWART McKEE.”
Kirby bought up McKee’s share of the business for £50, and continued trading on his own. He must have then ordered the clear glass codd bottles from Rylands of Barnsley, embossed with “PERCY E. KIRBY, BLETCHLEY”.
The June meeting of the Fenny Stratford Urban District Council discussed a recent application for a slaughter-house to be opened by a butcher in Fenny Stratford, but as it was very close to the Mineral Water Works, it was refused.
Horses would get Kirby into trouble again. This from the Bucks Herald, 7th June 1913:
“LINSLADE. Lord Orkney’s Escape. At the Petty Sessions on Monday, before Mr. J. T. Mills (in the chair) and other Magistrates, Percy E. Kirby, mineral water manufacturer, of Fenny Stratford, pleaded guilty to ill-treating a horse, by beating it, at Stewkley, on May 10. The Earl of Orkney said he was driving from Soulbury to Stewkley, when he met defendant coming from the Vicarage Farm corner in charge of a mineral water van drawn by two horses. Apparently, the defendant did not see witness, and had he not driven on to the grass by the roadside defendant would have smashed into him. Defendant was striking the horse on the off-side, and after watching him out of sight witness could still hear the whip going. He telegraphed the Inspector of the Police at Fenny Stratford, and told him to meet the defendant when he arrived there and examine the off-side horse. Witness was a little surprised that the defendant was not summoned also for driving to the danger of the public. Inspector Dance, of Bletchley, spoke to receiving Lord Orkney’s message, and meeting the defendant when he came into his yard. He examined the horse, which was in good condition, but the hindquarters were practically covered with weals. Between the hindquarters there were two contused wounds, and underneath the sheath was a cut dripping with blood. Witness asked defendant for explanation, and he replied that had whipped the horse because it was “a lazy brute.” added that he had not whipped the horse unmercifully. Defendant, who repeated this explanation to the Magistrates, was fined £3 and 8s. 6d. costs.”
It wasn’t only his livestock that was costing him in fines. Even his bottle stock could lose him money. From the Bucks Advertiser 27th September 1913:
“Fenny Stratford Petty Sessions – FALSE TRADE MARKS. Percy E. Kirby, mineral water manufacturer, Fenny Stratford, was summoned on seven counts for unlawfully selling mineral waters bearing a false trade description. Mr. W. W. Webb, of Messrs. Webb and Sons, London, appeared tor the prosecution, and Mr. C. J. Allinson defended. The false trade-marks comprised bottles bearing the names Oldham (Sherington), Morris and Co. (Ampthill), and others. The prosecutors were the Bottle Exchange, London.
Cecil P. Allen, Inspector under the London Bottle and Mineral Water Manufacturers Protection Society. gave evidence as to having under instructions from his Society came to Bletchley, and there examined the stock mineral waters in the shop of Mr. T. Brace, Bletchley Road. There he found out of five dozen minerals five bottles defendant’s; the others bore the names “Oldham.” “White.” “Morris and Co.” At the Bull Inn. Little Brickhill, the same state of affairs were found. Witness bought certain of these bottles, and in the presence of Mr. Brace and Mr. Buggins labelled the bottles (which now produced).
Georgy S. Oldham, mineral water manufacturer, Sherington, gave evidence as to the unauthorised use of his firm’s bottles. They had in 1911 warned defendant as to using their bottles. In cross-examination witness said that their average exchange of bottles per annum would be about 150 gross.
William Hurndon, (representing Messrs. White and Co.) said that defendant had no authority to use their bottles, and they had never sold any of their bottles to him. They had warned defendant twice about the use of their bottles. Reginald Linthwaite (representing Morris and Co.), also gave evidence.
Thomas Brace. Bletchley Road; Mr. Buggins, landlord, Bull Inn, Little Brickhill; also gave evidence as to the purchase and sale of bottles mineral waters supplied by defendant in other firm’s bottles. Mr. Allinson addressed the Bench for the defence, arguing that defendant had acted innocently in the matter, and called defendant in his own defence. He had often got his own bottles back with the labels of other firms’ on them. His orders to his foreman were that “foreign” bottles should be filled, and that all the bottles going out should be labelled. Albert Sopsford (defendant’s foreman). gave evidence in corroboration of defendant’s evidence.
The Bench after consultation in private, found defendant guilty in each case, and the costs and fines would be £4 15s in all, or in default 28 days’ in the first case and 14 in the others. The bottles seized to be handed over to the representatives of the Bottle Exchange.”
It is interesting to see how closely everyone guarded their embossed bottles. Edward Holdom was on the Bench that day, who as a local brewer and wine & spirit merchant, also had an interest in protecting his own bottles. Kirby didn’t really stand a chance…
By October 1913, Kirby was already in financial difficulties, owing nearly £320 to creditors. All his machinery was sold to the London drinks firm R. White’s, for whom Kirby used to work, but the sale only raised £160, so in February 1914, Kirby went broke and closed up for good.
The Bucks Herald of 28th February 1914 reported:
“BLETCHLEY. Bankruptcy. A statement of the affairs of Mr. P. E. Kirby, late mineral manufacturer of Bletchley, has been issued by the Official Receiver, and shows that there are thirty unsecured creditors expected to rank for dividend to the amount of £319 14 10; the assets, including stock-in-trade, £100, machinery and utensils £60, amount to £160. leaving total deficiency of £159:14:10. The debtor states the causes his failure to be bad trade and heavy interest on money borrowed from professional money-lenders. The Official Receiver states that the debtor, aged 35, commenced in business with Stuart McKee in June, 1908. Each found capital to the extent of £80, the money contributed by the debtor having been saved whilst in business as a publican at the Rose and Crown, Dunstable. No partnership agreement was drawn up. and the partners drew £2 a week each from the business. The partnership was dissolved in November, 1912, McKee receiving £50 in cash, and debtor taking over all the assets and liabilities. He continued until October. 1913, when found he was in difficulties, then made arrangements with R. White and Sons, Ltd., mineral water manufacturers, Camberwell (with whom the debtor some years ago had been employed) to take over his stock-in-trade. vans. etc., for £145: 11: 2. This was in November last. The debtor states that he was aware of his insolvency at the beginning of October, 1913.”
I’m not sure where Percy went after the business in Fenny Stratford collapsed. A Stuart and Rebecca McKee were running The King’s Head in Abbotts Langley for 1920-1926.
If you know any more about these families, or come across other items from their business, please contact me, I would love to see them.
N.B. There was another Fenny Stratford Mineral Waters firm, under a Mr. C. Hardie, advertising mineral waters from Aylesbury Street in the 1880’s, but I have never seen a bottle with his details on. There are also bottles marked “Geo. Archer, Fenny Stratford”.
Page last updated March 2024.