January 2006

Newball and Mason, Chemists: Advertisement for Extracts of Herbs for Herb Beer, early twentieth century

Reference: DD 2407/4/9/1

T H Newball and Thomas Mason set up a chemist shop on the Derby Road in Nottingham in 1850. Many of the medicines Newball and Mason produced used extracts from herbs, manufactured on the premises.

Before long Newball and Mason began producing an Extract of Herbs, made from comfrey, dandelion and other plants, to which customers could add sugar, water and yeast to make Herb Beer. This drink, along with a non-alcoholic, home-made wine marketed under the name Wine Essences, proved immensely popular, and won awards for excellence at competitions both in Britain and abroad.

This is an advertisement for Newball and Mason's Extracts of Herbs for the production of Herb or Botanic Beer. The bottle, which sold for sixpence, could make eight gallons of beer.

Find out more about the sort of business records held at Nottinghamshire Archives.

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