Features / history
Wills’s Work Magazine provides glimpse into life in south Bristol 100 years ago
The huge factories of the Wills tobacco empire once stretched all the way down Raleigh Road covering more than 1m sq ft. At their peak a century ago, they employed 40 per cent of the working population of Bedminster, Ashton and Southville.
Bristol24/7 now has our office on the top floor of the Tobacco Factory, originally known as the Franklyn Davey & Co building, or Number 3 Factory. It is one of the few factory buildings saved from demolition after what was then Imperial Tobacco had relocated all of their production to Hartcliffe.
So it was with much excitement while recently browsing the shelves of Second Page bookshop in the Galleries that I came across a hardback book containing the first eight copies of the Wills’s Works Magazine dating from the inaugural issue of May 1922 to February 1924.
is needed now More than ever
The first Wills’s Work Magazine was published in 1922
I doff my Editor’s cap to Mr T Thornton Wills, the publication’s editor, who positioned his own name pride of place under the masthead of page one from the sixth issue.
The unnamed editor of the first magazine was keen to stress that it was not just for the staff in Bristol but for their colleagues in London, Swindon, Glasgow and other Wills’s locations across the UK.
“In introducing the first number of our Works Magazine, therefore, we would point out that our aim is to keep all in touch with all, to let those away from home feel they are not forgotten, to revive memories, quicken interest, and foster and strengthen good relationships so that we may never forget that we are all members of a great and happy family.
“A Magazine which fulfils the objects set out above should be of interest to all, contributed to by all, waited for and read by all; its pages should be devoted to items of personal news, sports, outings and topical events concerning the different departments and factories of our great organisation.
“We shall be glad if our readers will realise this and send in contributions in the form of short, interesting articles, photographs, cartoons, and even the works of potential poets.”
The ambitions of the first issue were soon fulfilled, with issue number two of August 1922 detailing events such as the Bristol Private Fire Brigades Association Tournament, held at Bristol Zoo; a cricket match played in Ashton Court; and news that the No. 5 Departmental Team (No. 3 Cigarette Machine Room) had won the Evening Club Skittles Cup for the first time.
There were no fewer than 49 weddings recorded including Edith May James (handmade cigarette department, No. 1 Factory) to Frank Belmon at St Philip & St Jacob’s Church; Jeane Stephens (cigarette packing department, No. 4 Factory) to Frank Board at the former St John’s Church in Bedminster; and Wallace Smith (warehouse, No. 4 Factory) to Minnie Wright (handmade cigarette department, No. 1 Factory) at St Aldhelm’s Church on Chessel Street.
And there was also a write-up of the “girls’ outing” to Coombe Dingle: “The girls of No. 3, to the number of ninety, accompanied by the Matrons, had a very enjoyable outing on Saturday, June 24th, despite the inclement weather; consoling themselves for the torrents of rain by thinking how good it was for father’s allotment.”
Main photo: Wills’s Work Magazine
Join Bristol24/7 Editor Martin Booth on a walking tour of the Old City and Castle Park. For more information and to book, visit www.yuup.co/experiences/explore-bristol-s-quirkiest-corners
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