Catalogue description John Hare & Company Temple Gate

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Family photographs

See also BRO 8033

John Hare and Company, Temple gate, Bristol, linoleum, white lead and colour manufacturers

The founder of the firm, John Hare, was born in Taunton in 1753, but came to Bristol to make his considerable fortune. In addition to building up a successful business, he also built at his sole expense Zion Congregational Chapel, Bedminster, which was opened in June 1830.

The firm passed in 1820 to his sons, Charles Hare and Sir John Hare, and in 1840 to the next generation, brothers Charles, John and Sholto Vere Hare. Charles died in 1855, and by the 1880's the firm, a prosperous and expanding business, was being run by his three descendants Charles Bowles, Henry Grace, and C.Felce Hare.

A detailed description of the factories as they were in 1883 is given in Work in Bristol (publ. Bristol Times and Mirror). From this it is clear that they were of major importance in the Bristol industrial scene. They consisted of petroleum cellars in Arno's Vale, the Albert floorcloth factory and flax mills, St. Philip's Marsh bought in 1862, the white lead works and rolling mills bought from T.H. & H.Riddle in 1848 in Avon Street, St. Philip's; the oil and colour works at Bath Bridge, and the Head Office and Floorcloth Works opposite Temple Meads Station. The firm employed between 300 and 400 people, and there was also an oil and colour branch in London.

Members of the family also played an active part in the civic and public life of Bristol; in particular Alderman Charles Bowles Hare, 1841-1911, son of Charles Bowles Hare of Clifton. He was Sheriff, Master of the Merchant Venturers, and President of the Colston Parent Society at various times, also a J.P., and churchwarden of Redcliffe parish. He also took part in musical, educational, and charitable activities in the city, distinguishing himself in all these spheres.

Although his involvement of the family in the firm has lessened in recent years, the firm itself, under the name John Hare & Co. (Colour) Ltd., operated in the city as paint manufacturers at least as late as 1973, based in Avon Street, the linoleum and floorcloth side of the business having ceased some years earlier.

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