The Colman's story timeline: 1894-1911

1894

Norwich Castle Museum was opened by the Duke and Duchess of York (later King George V and Queen Mary). Over the following five decades, the children of Caroline and Jeremiah James Colman donated to the museum thousands of objects from the family's collections of art and archaeology. 

1895

Death of Caroline Colman. 

1897

Alan Cozens-Hardy Colman was taken to Egypt for health reasons and died there of tuberculosis at the age of 30. He was accompanied by his father and sisters. Jeremiah James' collection of Egyptian artefacts was purchased during this excursion.   

1898

John Hassall, an artist employed by the publishers and printers Messrs David Allen & Sons Ltd., produced two posters for Colman's: 'The Mustard Girl' and 'To Klondyke'. The following year three more posters were produced by the same artist and printers: 'Returned from Klondyke', 'The Beefeater', and 'All the Powers Agree'.

Death of Jeremiah James Colman. The Colman's Employees Trust was established as part of his legacy. Jeremiah James left £2,000 annually to the trust for a period of 20 years. 

1899

A pension scheme was set up as a memorial to Jeremiah James Colman. 

Cecil Aldin created his first artwork for the firm: the image of a French peasant used in advertisements for Colman's blue. 

Introduction of the first ready-mixed mustard, marketed as Savora, and destined for export. It did not appear in Britain until 1915. 

1900

Colman's awarded a Grand Prix at the Paris Exposition. 

The paper mill at Carrow was closed down. 

Educational wallcharts and cabinets for schools were introduced as a mode of advertising.  

1901

First use of the advertising agencies S. H. Benson and Thomas Dixon. S. H. Benson produced the poster 'Colman's Mustard Used in the Royal Kitchens', which appeared around this time.  

1903

Acquisition of the London company Keen Robinson & Co. (the Colman's wanting to retain monopoly in the mustard business). The merger added new products to the Colman's lines, including barley water and patent groats for infants. 

1904

Helen and Ethel Colman commissioned the building of a wherry boat for the Norfolk Broads. The boat was named Hathor, after the Egyptian dahabiya that carried Alan and his family on Alan's last journey up the Nile.  

1907

J. & J. Colman received royal warrants as manufacturers of mustard to the King of Spain and the Queen of Norway.  

Introduction of Colman's new ready-mixed mustard, packaged in elegant stone jars and destined for export.  

1910

The first labelling machine was installed at Carrow. 

1911

Colman's Poultry Mustard (mustard for hens) was introduced.