By Matthew Abel, Exhibitions Team Leader
Welcome to the first post in our new blog feature, Object of the Month!
Each month, we will be researching and writing about a different object from the Museum’s collection, which will be displayed at the entrance to the main galleries. With over half of the collection in storage, this is a great chance to showcase some hidden gems which may not have been on display before.
This month’s object is a recent acquisition – a glass milk bottle from J. W. Lucas & Sons’ dairy in Romford, dating from c1929.
Milk bottle from J. W. Lucas & Sons. ROMHM.2015.26
The mark on its base tells us that the bottle was made by Forster’s Glass Company in Lancashire, but we can estimate when it came to Romford by tracking Lucas’ dairy through local trade directories.
Extract from Kellys Directory 1929. Courtesy of Havering Libraries Local Studies & Family History Centre.
John William Lucas (1884-1953) originally ran the Nightingale Dairy in Wanstead, but relocated to 5 Park Lane, Romford between 1911 and 1914, when he first appears in a local directory. By 1926 he had acquired additional premises at 39 London Road and 72 Brentwood Road. The telephone number on the bottle is listed in a 1929 directory (above), but not in 1926, so the bottle must date from after 1926.
Advert from 1938 telephone directory. Courtesy of Havering Libraries Local Studies and Family History Centre
It is not known exactly when Lucas’ dairy closed; it was still operating in 1938 (above) but appears to have ceased trading by 1957, although the Lucas family continued to live in Brentwood Road.
Branded paper bag of unknown date, which, like the bottle, features the name ‘Romford Creameries’, also on display at the Museum. Courtesy of Brian Evans
Do you remember Lucas’ dairy? Please email exhibitions@haveringmuseum.org.uk if you have any information.
Havering Museum / blog 
Aside From Romford Brewery bottles, MacCarthy bottles can be found. As many will remember MacCarthys were local Pharmacists and had a shop in Romford Market Place (now Supersavers) until the late 20th Century. I don’t know if Havering Museum has any examples, but some can certainly be seen at the Tithe Barn Museum in Upminster.