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In another of our 'Stories Behind The Pictures' series, local historian Peter Seddon makes the acquaintance of Giles Austin, one of Derby's 'high-class provisions merchants' in the genteel pre-supermarket age.

Derby grocer Mr. Giles Austin (1850-1929) engaged in tea-tasting

At first sight the balding and bespectacled 'professor type' in the picture looks as if he might be divining what his future holds, and not liking what he sees. Either that, or he's just discovered a fag end in the bottom of his tea-cup. Perhaps that's why his assistant is lurking in the shadows.

In fact the apparent look of faint disgust is nothing of the sort, but rather the 'studied concentration' of a connoisseur, for this is the Derby grocer Giles Austin doing a spot of serious tea-tasting, deciding what blends might best suit his discerning customers.

The unusual snapshot of a working life was taken in Derby around the first decade of the 20th century, when Austin was in his fifties and running his high-class grocery business in the Market Place. No doubt the picture was taken on the premises.

Giles Austin was born in Torquay, Devon, in 1850, and moved to Derby in 1890. Besides his reputation as one of the town's leading food and drink retailers, he was also one of the best-known lay churchmen in Derby, with a particular attachment to St. Giles Church on Village Street, at the heart of 'old' Normanton.

His 'provisions' business did very well, and when Mr. John Shaw of Normanton House, Village Street, died in 1906, Giles Austin purchased the entire estate. In the grounds he built a brand new residence which he called 'Homelands House' - very handy for St. Giles' Church - and he lived happily there with his wife and family for the rest of his life.

Austin became a church warden at St. Giles' and took a deep interest in all its activities. Doubtless they provided the best 'Church Teas' in Derby, for Austin cultivated a particular expertise as a taster and blender, as the photograph suggests.

On the bench are all his samples, and he is assessing one in particular. Note the large receptacle in the foreground which served as his spitoon - like wine-tasters, it is not the done thing for tea experts to swallow their samples.

The sign at the top of the picture is an interesting one, for it shows that one of the ranges manufactured and sold by Austin and Co. was called 'Derby Teas'. These sold for 'one and sevenpence' a packet - about 8p in today's currency.

Although the original 'Derby Teas' have long been discontinued, a range by the same name is still available in India. 'Derby Tea' is produced on the 'Derby Tea Estate' in Assam - perhaps an entrepreneurial Derbeian could profitably import some for local consumption.

The name Austin will be familiar to many people still alive who remember the celebrated Derby grocers Austin Hodgkinson - presumably Giles Austin went into partnership with a Mr. Hodgkinson at some time, and that shop was the result. Unless the name is pure coincidence - perhaps someone can give a definitive answer.

Giles Austin died in 1929, and at the memorial service the vicar of St Giles' - the genial Irishman the Reverend Robert Price - said he was a great force for good in the parish, and described him as 'a devout and humble Christian'. He said: 'Amidst all the controversy and confusion of the day, the Bible was enough for him'.

Homelands House, with its beautiful green lawns and gardens, ultimately became part of Homelands School, built in 1937 and sadly now demolished, although Homelands House itself survived, as at 2008 in 'community use'.

The name of Giles Austin is still perpetuated today. The large area of Council Housing built on land between Village Street and the Sunnyhill area was named the 'Austin Estate' in his honour. Alas it is considered quite a 'troublesome' area now, a world away from the genteel 'more tea vicar?' age which 'high-class provisions merchant' Giles Austin epitomised. Just as well, perhaps, that this deeply Christian man did not live to see it.

• The 'Stories Behind The Pictures'

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County:  Derbyshire

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