CROOK, SWINDON ROAD, SWINDON
William Crook was born in 1841 in Highworth, Wiltshire. He married Sarah Parsons of Lydiard Millicent, Wiltshire in 1866.
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William Crook was born in 1841 in Highworth, Wiltshire. He married Sarah Parsons of Lydiard Millicent, Wiltshire in 1866.
William started working for Edwin Robert ING around 1869 and by 1871 he was working at his North Wilts Aerated Water Manufactory in Lansdown Road, Swindon. According to the census of the same year William was the Manger of Soda Water Works living just down the road at number 6. In 1888 William signed a lease for parcels of farm land belonging to the local Lord of the Manor, Ambrose Lethbridge Goddard. William's occupation is recorded in the lease as Chemist Manager. Presumably he was managing ING's chemist shop in Wood Street. After working for ING for about 20 years and at the age of 50 William went into business on his own and purchased the factory in Swindon Road, Swindon. His son, William John Crook (b PROSPECT AERATED WATER COottles marked W.J. Crook) was to be his assistant. William and family had moved to 8 King William Street, Swindon where he opened a shop selling their drinks. He advertised that 16 different types of soft drinks were available. On the 31st March 1896 plans were drawn up by local architect William Drew to almost double the size of the premises in Swindon Road. By 1901 with business booming the family moved to Olive House at 11 Prospect Place, Swindon. By this time William John, who is now a traveling salesman for the family business, had married Clara Collier and they have a daughter and a son.
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Tragedy seemed to follow the Crook family. In 1917 John James William Crook, only son of Clara and William John, was killed in action in Flanders during WWI.