Aylesbury Dairy Co. Seal, Image & Found by Tom Arthurs.
Found in Bedfordshire, 22mm, 7.6g.
Six pointed star followed by AYL(ESBU)RY DAIRY COMPY curved around the outer border and LIMITED straight across the centre // No. 17 in a circle border
A milk churn seal. "The milk is received in churns twice a day from a number of farms in various parts of the country. All the churns are sealed with a leaden seal, supplied by the receiving firm, and are further identified with marks by the farmer who has despatched them." THE MILK INDUSTRY, Henry Lee, p.346-350, Britain At Work - a pictorial description of our national industries, (1905) Publisher: Cassel and Company Limited, London. (Information provided by Darron Barnes)
This is a third variation of the Aylesbury Dairy Company seal, not showing LONDON on either side.
"To commence with a few general notes, the rise and progress of the Aylesbury Dairy Company may not be without interest.
When in the year 1865 the cattle plague invaded this country, and also visited the cow-sheds of London, necessitating the slaughter of a great number of milch cows, Mr. G. Mander Allender, who for some time had paid great attentian to practical dairyfarming, formed the idea of supplying London with really good milk, direct from the country. In order to carry this scheme into effect, he, in 1865, founded this Company, of which, since that time, he always has been, and still is, the most active and energetic managing-director. The business was increasing so rapidly that it was soon found to outgrow its first abode, and in 1870 it was removed to the specially built and extensive premises at St. Petersburgh Place, Bayswater.
From the very commencement of the business, the supply of pure milk of high quality was made the leading principle. To completely secure the purity of the milk, it was necessary to have a certain control over it from the time it leaves the cow-nay, even more, over the conditions under which the cows are kept, and by which they are surrounded. The Aylesbury Dairy Company, therefore, only enters into a contract for the supply of milk, after the farm in question has been inspected and satisfactorily reported upon by the Company’s sanitary engineer" (PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY OF PUBLIC ANALYSTS. THE VISIT OF THE SOCIETY OF PUBLIC ANALYSTS TO THE FARMS OF THE AYLESBURY DAIRY COMPANY ON THE ~ 9th JUNE, 1887.)
