The notice in question was displayed on Mr Fred Meredith’s house (Meredith and Whiting – Contractors) which was situated on the site of Yeo’s DIY shop, opposite the short length of Vernon Terrace (Bristol end), on the Lower Bristol Road, East Twerton, Bath. Originally this was a farm. Mr Meredith was a haulier, using in his early days Sentinal Steam wagons. He hauled a variety of goods – often containers of furniture for Jolly’s, as far as Cornwall. He used to tell stories of how he and his mate would fry steak meat on the boiler-fire on Dartmoor when on long distance trips and of the difficulty in obtaining water for the boiler when on unfamiliar ground.

Mr Meredith subsequently became a quarry owner at Cheddar in the upper approaches to the gorge. He tendered to supply road-stone and aggregate to the Bath City Council but every time his tender was turned down.

He was rather annoyed at this and obtained samples of stone from Wooten’s quarry which was continually accepted by the Bath City Council. At his own expense he had these samples tested together with samples of his own stone at the laboratories of Bristol University. Mr Meredith’s stone was superior in every aspect:

Better crushing strength.
Less water absorption.
Infinitely cheaper.

This led him to believe a “fiddle” was taking place as he knew there was a connection by marriage between Wooten’s and a prominent Alderman of the City – hence the notice.

The council asked him to go to the Guildhall and state his case. His reply, “I already have for all to see.”

Meredith & Whiting (contractors)
The Texas Oil Co. Ltd.