These extracts and pictures are available by kind permission of Jill King, and come from her book 'William Horner and his Creamery' published in 2012.
This excellent and well-researched book tells the story of William Horner's first ventures in Weaverham in 1874, then a move to Cuddington, though to cream separation in 1884. After William Horner's death in 1897, his son George Horner took over the business. Cream and milk could travel by train from the nearby station towards the end of the 19th Century. A second creamery was opened in Prees, near Whitchurch, Shopshire. Later, the Company led the way with pasteurised, TT tested milk in glass bottles with cardboard caps. Express Dairy bought the business in 1963 and shortly afterwards the production of Ski yogurt started.
1870's High Street, Weaverham, William Horner's first creamery in Smith's Lane from 'William Horner and His Creamery' by Jill King 2012
1900's Cream Packing Room from 'William Horner and His Creamery' by Jill King 2012
1890's Clotted Cream Jars from 'William Horner and His Creamery' by Jill King 2012
1890s? Horners Cream jar. Alex Dickinson comments "William Horner patented his clotted cream in September 1884. The pots were made in the Potteries and delivered to Acton Bridge along the Trent & Mersey Canal." (Courtesy Clare Kay)
1900's Creamery workers with iconic chimney behind from 'William Horner and His Creamery' by Jill King 2012
1940 Horner's Creamery employees from 'William Horner and His Creamery' by Jill King 2012
Norman Waters comments that this is a Bedford lorry. He also says that " I remember it well.going there with milk then with Yogmix from Minsterley" Picture from 'William Horner and His Creamery' by Jill King 2012
1950's Orange drink, milk and double cream bottles, from 'William Horner and His Creamery' by Jill King 2012
1950's Milk Bottles, from 'William Horner and His Creamery' by Jill King 2012
1950's - Horner's milk was pasteurised, from 'William Horner and His Creamery' by Jill King 2012
1950's experiments with different logos, from 'William Horner and His Creamery' by Jill King 2012
1950's Eddie Lewis, driver with Arthur Bebbington and John Percival, factory workers, taking a break. Picture from 'William Horner and His Creamery' by Jill King 2012
1960's milk round with Harold Johnson. Picture from 'William Horner and His Creamery' by Jill King 2012
Norman Sexton took his youngest daughter Norma in the cab, from 'William Horner and His Creamery' by Jill King 2012
1950's Horner family wedding and Horner's workers, from 'William Horner and His Creamery' by Jill King 2012
1950's Horner's trucks. Foreground vehicle is a Foden. James Ayres comments "The vehicle in the background is a Thornycroft - the 'T' on the radiator is the give-away. Possibly a Mk 1 Trident. The firm started as a steam lorry maker in the 19th century, only going over to internal combustion before WW1. They were taken over by AEC in 1961." Picture from 'William Horner and His Creamery' by Jill King 2012
1950's marketing material from 'William Horner and His Creamery' by Jill King 2012
1960's trucks and staff from 'William Horner and His Creamery' by Jill King 2012
1963 Express Dairy era starts
1964 - Austin Jones, Fruit Preparation Foreman with Eileen Sealey & Jean Crank sorting blackcurrants from 'William Horner and His Creamery' by Jill King 2012
1970's ? Harold Johnson, Norman Sexton and John Snashall. Picture from 'William Horner and His Creamery' by Jill King 2012
1970's ? Group Photo. Sid Blain (2nd right), from the Hollows, with (l-r) Harry Briscoe, from 'William Horner and His Creamery' by Jill King 2012
1960's canteen ladies, from 'William Horner and His Creamery' by Jill King 2012
1960's Duke of Westminster visit, with Flo Bebbington, from 'William Horner and His Creamery' by Jill King 2012
1960's Alex Malone looking after the culture laboratory. from 'William Horner and His Creamery' by Jill King 2012
1960's Electrician Bill Seldon talking to Bill Shires, from 'William Horner and His Creamery' by Jill King 2012
