Vines Model Dairy
A brief outline to the history of Vines.
“Vines Model Dairies Limited” as it was known, was started in 1912 by Walter Vine who was the son of a tenant farmer for Lord Wimborne of Dorset.
He was raised on the farm and proceeded to go in to business supplying milk to the people of Southampton, where he was now living.
Initially the milk was supplied from Dorset each day on “the milk train”. Walter or one of his sons would be at the station each morning to collect it and bring it to the Dairy in Spear Road, Southampton for processing.
Initially the milk was supplied by Walter going round the streets of Southampton on his Horse & Cart (the horse was called Empress) with the milk in churns which was dispensed to the customers via ladles. There were two different sized ladles.
Gradually, Walter recruited all of his 6 sons into the business and the company prospered.
Electric milk floats were introduced and this meant they could carry more milk further distances and the rounds expanded to eventually cover the whole of Southampton and immediate areas.
With expansion underway the decision was taken to move from the restricted site in Spear Road – to the purpose built present site in Empress Road with the move having taken place in 1970.