Hand Dug History

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We dig up and recycle antique bottles making genuinely unique homeware gifts oozing with local history.

25/04/2026

Sort of an anniversary.

15/03/2026

Green and blue poisons are always a favourite to dig.
I'll be making a few wall mounted single stem vases with them this year, watch this space.

05/03/2026

I've been saddened all day today as it was the funeral of one of my customers. He'll be missed for sure. We had many chats, one of them about the giant ornate Moors & Robson Breweries mirror he has. I can't quite remember whether he had something to do with the brewery in the past or he just liked the mirror, but they had beautifully ornate embossing on their bottles too.
I'll raise a glass to you tonight Geoffrey.
RIP.

04/03/2026

Four years ago today I made these, and they sold almost immediately.
1920s/30s chemist bottles with a hole put in the side for candle access.
Maybe I should make some more?

08/01/2026

Just an update on the possible new tip I've found. One of the surface finds was this 3cm printed stoneware lid for a baby feeding bottle.
Thanks to the variations in the company name through the years it makes it fairly easy to date the actual item to 1870-1901, and while it may have been thrown away a time after that, other items in the same area date to around the turn of the century too so it seems pretty accurate.
If you want to sleep soundly though, don't Google 'murder bottles'. That's what this came from...

05/01/2026

New year, new tip?
Watch this space!

22/12/2025

FINALLY, they made a film of my life. And got Tom Cruise to play me. Bonus! https://www.facebook.com/share/v/16cMU7bypx/

09/12/2025

We nearly sold out of the table arrangements my super talented made for the Sunday. There was just one left. Made with spruce and assorted dried flowers, and housed in a genuine Victorian jam pot, £18.00 takes it. Pick up only from HU6.
Ain't it purdy?

07/12/2025

Love you Hull! (And surrounding areas of course)
You turned out in your droves to the market, and it was greatly appreciated.
You're the best. See you at the next one!

Oh and if you're the lovely gent in the checked shirt that bought two bottles from me at 2.31pm, card number ending 7357, your card transaction failed and I didn't notice until you'd gone. My fault entirely, not yours! 🤦‍♂️
If you feel like getting in touch to try again, please do!

(Btw the picture is of a hard to find GF Frost bottle from Hull, I've never dug a whole one. I've no idea what the hand signifies, but I wholeheartedly agree with the "❤️ Hull" sentiment. You rock.)

06/12/2025

VERY LIMITED STOCK.

So, before my multi talented wife Helen mastered hair dressing (cheeky shout out to 😉), she mastered floristry too.

I've had these Victorian jam pots and utility jugs for ages, not knowing what to do with them. She's been exercising her creative juices, utilising the antique stoneware to create some truly unique table arrangements. Some with live Skimmia plants that can be kept potted or transplanted to the garden if you prefer, others with a mixture of live stems and dried flowers.

Only limited stock, and only available at the market tomorrow.
Humber Street, 10-4.

See y'all tomorrow!

Address

Kingston Upon Hull

Website

https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/HandDugHistory

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