Special offers for tourists?

 

Cheese dish and beaker sold by H. Wixey

 

The bases of the china items show that they were purchased specifically for H. Wixey

It seems that Campden was aware of the value of holiday visitors over 100 years ago –  specially commissioned china items were on sale in Mr. Herbert Wixey’s store.  As well as this cheese dish and beaker, we have a cup and saucer in the CCHS Archives, so there were teasets, possibly even dining sets that publicised the town. They all feature St. James’ Church, produced using a transfer print and not of great quality, but well-used. This donation came from a Campden family so the china may well have been popular locally.

Herbert Wixey owned and ran Wixey’s Stores on the corner of Church Street, with various departments in the adjoining  buildings, established in 1863.  A newspaper advertisement described Herbert Wixey as a “high class family grocer, an export tea blender and a provision merchant”. He was a pillar of the local business society, a Sunday School teacher and involved in most of the local committees and activities.

Read more in A man of many parts – Herbert Wixey