Flour Bag Seal, R.H. Hurley, Bishop's Waltham, Image & Found by John Belgrove.
Found in Hampshire, 21mm.
R.H.HURLE(Y) curved down .BISHOP'S WALTHAM. curved up (circular inscription) // blank
Identified by Philippe Lanez as being most probably the seal of Henry Hurley who ran Abbey Mill, Station Road, Bishops Waltham at the turn of the 18th century.
See 'Bishop's Waltham in old picture postcards', "Trade directories show a John Hague was miller here in 1867 and John Edwards in 1871. Henry Hurley then took the business, also advertising as a brewer. An 1892 invoice from Abbey Brewery priced beer at IOd. per gallon (equivalent to about half a new penny per pint). The mil! had several occupiers around the turn of the century before James Duke took it about 1902 and the business which he founded still owns the property though Abbey Mill itse1f is now used mainly for offices, milling having been transferred to the old Edwards Brewery site in Lower Lane".