A CENTURY or so ago, the world was awash with fizzy fruit juices, but not all of them were good.

“Persons without skill or capital put up plant to produce these waters, and the result was, and is now to a certain extent, that a great amount of very inferior beverages were put upon the market, some of whichwere not only inferior but positively injurious to health,” said an 1894 magazine.

It was advertising the drinks of Messrs Sant and Son, of Peel Street, Bishop Auckland, whose beverages, of course, were “not only delicious to the palate but also of great purity”.

Memories has recently been flooded with stoneware flagons and bottles that, until the 1930s, contained fizzy drinks, like lemonade and ginger beer. Every town and, in some cases, village, had its own mineral and aerated water manufacturer.

John Rusby has sent in this picture of a Sant stoneware bottle, which has a nice drawing of Auckland Castle gateway on it.

“I’ve had itfor many years, and although I have lived in Bishop Auckland nearly all my life, I’ve never heard of Sant and Son,” he says.

Local historian Tom Hutchinson can help out. Albert Sant was born in Bishop Auckland in 1872 of parents who came from Nottingham, and he brewed and bottled with his only son, Percy.

Another member of the family, Edward William Sant, was also involved in the business. In 1909, he became one of the three local owners of the Bishop Auckland Hippodrome (along with consulting engineerLeopold Sheridan Seymour and wholesale fruit and potatomerchant John Joseph Snailham), which opened in Railway Street.

The new theatre’s impressario was the brilliant Signor Rino Pepi, the Italian quick-change artist who created what is now Darlington Civic Theatre.

Neither Pepi nor Sant could make a success of the Bishop Hip, though.

Within 18 months, they were sued before the Lord Chief Justice in London for non-payment of bills amounting to £6,547 which were “associated with the building of the theatre”.

They lost, and were ordered to pay within 14 days – Bishop Auckland Urban District Council being one of the main creditors as it had yetto be paid for making up Railway Street.

The theatre was immediately plunged into liquidation.

The Sants’ drinks business lasted untilthe late 1920s but, according at least to the 1894 advert, it was noted for its soda water. “It is guaranteed thoroughly pure, and retains its effervescent and refreshing qualities a considerable time after opening,” said the advert.

“Messrs Sant and Son also turn out potass, lithin, seltzer and other waters, besides lemonade, champagne cider, raspberryade, ginger beer, gingerette, lime juice, peppermint, and various cordials, all of which, as well as their excellent hop bitters, are in extensive demand.”