Hancocks1872

Hancock's Excelsior Soap
Established in New Zealand 1872

Hancock's Excelsior Soap - first advertised in 1872 by my great-great-grandfather Thomas Hancock. Having lost his first and second wife he decided to start a new life in New Zealand for himself and several of his children. The family sailed from London aboard the "Echunga" and arrived in Lyttelton on 22 December 1862.

By 1867 Thomas had purchased land in Montreal Street, Christchurch and set up his soap and candle-making factory known as the "Newtown Soap and Candle Works". It is recorded that he won first prize for his soap at the Christchurch Show in 1870. By 1872 he had commenced advertisements in "The Press" Christchurch and "The Lyttelton Times" (see above).

This is an inventory found of the factory in September 1874:
"Five Boilers, 1 for steam and fire, 2 for steam, 2 for fire; 2 moveable iron soap frames; 2 moveable wooden soap frames; 21 candle frames for moulds; 1 candle machine for dipping candles; 2 iron tanks for alkalis; 1 Avery weighing machine; sundry tables, casks, implements and tools of trade".

Thomas had bought 4 acres of land land in Accommodation Road (now called Norman's Road) and then, in 1872, a further 4 acres for Ł126 which adjoined the original purchase. This is where he lived for the rest of his life (Hancock's Lane now called Urunga Avenue). He died on 19 August 1898 aged 85 and is buried in the churchyard of St Pauls Church, Papanui in what became the Hancock family plot.

Before the turn of the century several of Thomas' sons were involved with the business, including my great-grandfather also named Thomas.

In this undated photograph the name "Hancock Brothers"
can be seen in the window of the building on the right, and also on the wagon (obscured).