Authentic 1846 hand-written letter. This historical document offers a glimpse into the past, reflecting the traditions and practices of that era.

Pulling and Co were important Cider Merchants and Gin Distillers in Hereford from 1813 to1979. When the business was sold in the early 1980s they left 150 years of invoices, letters, bank books and ledgers. Some were thrown out, but a large number survive.

William Pulling began as a cider merchant and extended his interests into river transport, the bark and slate trade and finally, into one of the biggest drinks trades in the region. He began making gin in 1813 and continued until 1939, using the same stills but different recipes, finally developing the Hereford Dry Gin brand.

The firm sold wine, cider and spirits all over Herefordshire and into the SoThe Archivist holding receipts for carrying cider on trows from Hereford to Chepstow in 1819uth Wales pubs serving the steel and coal regions. Gloucester was a distribution centre, goods were taken there by carrier, later by the canal and, from the 1850s by the railways. Salesmen were key to the business, it was they who developed personal relations with customers and were responsible for selling what seems to us, enormous quantities. Gin, cider and spirits were sold to the pubs and port, whisky and brandy to the big country houses.

William Pulling was the typical Victorian gent in beaver hat and frock coat (bought from Picadilly London). He had 10 children, lived in a large town house, served as Mayor and Trustee of the Charity Board in Hereford, belonged to agricultural societies, a gentleman's club and showed poultry. His children went to University and became part of genteel social