Comments on: Sarsparilla & Mineral Water Sellers

By: Pauline Rogerson

Pauline Rogerson — Sun, 14 Feb 2021 19:44:03 +0000

Reminded me of a herbalist shop (Harrop’s) in Ashton-under-Lyne, Tameside I always visited with my dad. We would have hot bloodtonic which was lovely and warming in cold weather.

By: Akkers

Akkers — Wed, 16 Sep 2020 17:27:29 +0000

I don’t have any photos, but mineral water wise, my Great Aunt and Uncle used to have a Mineral water business in Bethnal Green during the 1910s decade and were Emily and Arthur Keep. Regarding Sarsaparilla, I still drink this and its Baldwins original sarsaparilla which was mentioned above by Wendy Lowe (it’s available on line, from some supermarkets and in a couple of newsagents in Hackney). My old Nan always used to say it was good for the blood, so in the summer it was to cool the blood down and in the winter it was to warm it up when it was drunk as a hot drink. I always think of my family when I have some. It was available from a couple of markets when I was growing up, but the one I remember the most is like Robert Kearney at Walthamstow. During the 70s when I was a kid if we visited during the winter months we would always have some to warm us up and then we would then go and get our pie and mash in Manzies - Happy days :) Bernie and Vicki Fox – yes there was a sarsaparilla stall down Kingsland Waste in Hackney probably till the early 80’s.

By: Robin Call

Robin Call — Wed, 16 Sep 2020 00:39:21 +0000

I haven’t had Sarsparilla since I was a little kid (I’m 61 now). We also drank Sassafras tea for colds.
I’m not so sure Sassafras trees grow in the U.K. It is brewed from roots and bark. The tree is odd as it produces three differently shaped leaves (which also makes it easy to find in the forest).

By: Pamela Traves

Pamela Traves — Tue, 15 Sep 2020 23:01:25 +0000

Interesting pictures of the Water sellers.????????

By: Bailey Jones

Bailey Jones — Tue, 15 Sep 2020 18:48:47 +0000

When I was a child, I would visit Hool’s Herbalists in Bolton Market Hall with my mother. She would have a Blood Tonic and I would have a glass of Vimto. The stall passed from father to son the 70s/80s. My son also remembers visiting the stall with his dad. My husband having Sarsaparilla (Blood Tonic) and our son a glass of Vimto.
The stall moved to the ‘Outdoor Market’ when the gentrified (and ruined) Market Hall became more upmarket. The stall continued for many years but a friend thinks it has recently closed. I have not visited Bolton Market since lockdown. I will be sorry if the stall has closed.

By: Bernie

Bernie — Tue, 15 Sep 2020 16:38:23 +0000

Vicki Fox may wish to know that the Sarsparilla stall at Hackney Waste (was it really called that?) was still there in my day, i.e. until at least 1959 or 60.

By: Barbara Rose

Barbara Rose — Tue, 15 Sep 2020 16:30:56 +0000

I spent the first 3 years of my life in McKenzie Road, North London and I remember my mother taking me to the local chemist where I used to drink sarsaparilla with delight, on the premises.

How I look forward to receiving your blogs GA!

By: Linda Granfield

Linda Granfield — Tue, 15 Sep 2020 11:25:21 +0000

It appears that at Brandon’s, all that framed ‘art,’ tankards, and draperies had to be put in place each morning? And nothing installed on a rainy day?

Do the tankards mark a ‘take-out/take-away’ window for street sales?

(I’d love a close-up button to see all the details in these wonderful photos.)

Ms. Oliver might consider making kegs of that family sarsaparilla given our current plague times!
Thank you.

By: Robert kearney

Robert kearney — Tue, 15 Sep 2020 11:19:55 +0000

I remember back in the 1950/1960s my parents used to buy me and my sister a drink of usually hot sarsaparilla to warm us up on our occasional visits to Walthamstow market. The stall that sold it (from what looked to me as a child like a giant samovar) was located almost outside Manzes pie and mash shop which we eat in generally on every market visit. I really miss those meals and that hot drink having moved away from the area.

By: Vicki Fox

Vicki Fox — Tue, 15 Sep 2020 10:42:26 +0000

Many years ago (about 70) there used to be Sarsparilla stall in Hackney Waste – a Saturday market. In the winter months it was sold with hot water.