William Evans & Co. (Hereford & Devon) Ltd Ceramic Ashtray

William Evans & Co. (Hereford & Devon) Ltd ceramic ashtray dating from the 1930s. The firm was established in 1850 as a cider merchant at 9 Blue School Street, Hereford. The moderately successful business was purchased in 1884 by William Chave for his sons. In 1891 the firm moved to larger premises in Widemarsh Common. In the 1900s the Company built a second factory in Devon and traded as William Evans & Co. (Hereford & Devon) Ltd. By 1934 William Evans was producing its well-known 'Golden Pippin' cider brand. The Company purchased Ridler & Son of Clehonger in the 1940s and changed its name to Ridler & Evans Ltd. The firm was acquired in 1946 by Welsh brewer's Webbs (Aberbeeg) Ltd. The business was sold to H.P.Bulmer Ltd of Hereford in 1960.