Photo. 20 Apr 2006. The Herring family… pioneer South Australians, Builders, Hotel Keepers, Ginger Beer Brewers and major Adelaide Monumental Masons. A tangible legacy surviving in Earthenware, Glass and Stone. Jan 2006. © David Tuckwell Giles Head Herring, founder of an early Adelaide business 1840. The history commenced with the arrival of John Morris Herring aged 51 on the 19th of December 1839 from England aboard the sailing vessel ‘Moffatt,’ with his second wife Louisa and their children. They were also accompanied by John’s youngest son from his first marriage – Giles Head Herring aged 18 years. Soon after they arrived the family moved into premises in Waymouth Street, Adelaide, and commenced business as builders. (The trade which John and his son Giles had practised in London.) The Herring’s commenced the erection of buildings on their inner city land. One improvement was the erection of a Ginger beer brewery in 1840. During the proceeding years they also built the substantial public house which was licensed as the Union Inn in 1845. John Morris Herring conducted the hotel whilst son Giles ran the Ginger beer brewery located at the rear of the allotment. Around this time Giles took his future Father-In-Law Thomas Cannon Potts into partnership operating in the style of Herring & Company, Adelaide. Herring & Co operated from 1845 to June 1849. The Union Inn was leased to a Mr Creech from 1849 to 1850. The enterprising publican enjoyed a lucrative side line involving a Black Tiger which he kept in a cage at the back of the hotel. Creech displayed his tiger at varied venues and collected six-pence per person for the privilege of viewing this majestic animal. John Herring a keen fancier of prize pigeons and poultry, in addition an assortment of ducks were kept kept in the hotel yard for market. Unfortunately for Creech there was a hole in the side of his tigers cage and one of the ducks foolishly poked his head in. The subsequent feast resulted in Creech being imprisoned for duck stealing as he steadfastly refused to pay Mr Herring a compensation of 3/6d. Creech’s lease was not renewed and Herring resumed the Union Inn. On the 30th of August 1849 John Herring’s son Giles married Georgina Potts the only daughter of his former partner. Life for the well known pioneer Adelaide residents continued on a prosperous and progressive manner. John looked after his popular Union Inn, son Giles enjoyed a good trade in the manufacture of Ginger Beer and Aerated Products from premises at the rear of the hotel. In addition another of Johns son’s Frederick Herring was Adelaide’s leading monumental masons, examples of Freds headstone work is easily found in the West Terrace Cemetery and many others. Herrings monumental mason works were located within a city block or two from his fathers hotel. Under tragic circumstance in January 1852 the licensee of the Union Inn and head of the Herring family Mr John Herring, was involved in an accident in which his horse and trap bolted resulting in the death of a child. Apart from his severe injuries Herring grieved terribly over the death of the child, he died at his hotel just two weeks later. The Herring Ginger beer and aerated water business continued under the sole direction of Giles until selling out in 1870. Giles Herring’s first born son of the same name… Giles Head Herring (Jnr) attempted to continue his father’s former business, however, his efforts proved unsuccessful and this new business was declared insolvent on 4 April 1871 after just one year of operation. The Herring story ends under rather bazaar circumstances on the 19th of July 1876 with the death of Giles at the residence of his brother Edwin Herring in Kermode Street, North Adelaide. An inquest into his passing was held to ascertain the actual cause of death. Inquest quote in brief: It appears Giles Herring (Snr) and his half brother Edwin Herring were involved in an altercation some time in April 1876 a few months before his death. Deceased and Edwin were wrangling together in the Bar of the Union Inn Waymouth Street and after some words Edwin was seen to have thrown Giles out the door roughly, the witness to the event believed that when thrown the back of deceased’s head came in contact either with the step or the pavement. Edwin took Giles in his arms when he threw him out. Witness said it didn’t appear as though Edwin was under the influence of liquor at the time. After some time it appears Giles was not recovering from frequent headaches and was admitted to the Adelaide Hospital. Edwin paid for every comfort for Giles at the home of another brother John Henry Herring. His hut was located in a lane off Kermode Street, North Adelaide. Edwin showed solitude about his brother’s welfare. There was no doubt the Giles was dying, he was in a very poor state of health, Edwin engaged a Labourer named James McCauley to attend him during his sickness, which he did for eleven days, Giles was also attended to by his elder Brother – John Henry who saw that he had nourishment such as beef-tea, &c. Dr. Andrew McIntyre also attended Giles, but thought it hopeless, gave no medicine, just suggested he be made comfortable and have his bedding changed. Giles was very emaciated and suffering from a very large posterior bed sore. A post-mortem was ordered on the deceased and the findings were tabled at the Inquest. The Coroner, in summing up, briefly reviewed the evidence bought forward and said he thought it had been shown the brutal treatment deceased had received at the hands of his brother Edwin had nothing to do with the immediate cause of his death. He might state that even though the man died from natural causes, as the Doctor had given as his opinion, if it could be shown that the assault committed upon him had accelerated by a single day his death, his brother Edwin would have been held responsible for it. The jury without retiring brought in a verdict that “Deceased died from consumption and effusion into the ventricles of the brain.” The (Full Version) of the Inquest appeared in the Observer: 22 July 1876. As there was no mention of Giles’s wife and family it may be presumed they had separated from marriage. Giles brother Frederick Herring was a leading Adelaide Monumental Mason, so it was of no surprise when visiting the Hindmarsh Cemetery to find a very large monument marking the resting place of several Herring family members including Giles Head Herring. So ends a look at the rather tragic history of firstly John Morris who died from his horse drawn vehicle accident and the extreme pain of remorse he felt at causing the death of a child. Also the rather bazaar end faced by Giles Herring. In more recent times (c2003 onwards) ordinary people and others with psychic ability have become aware of much paranormal activity at the Union Hotel as it is now known in Waymouth Street, Adelaide. It has been reported that a prospective employee was been interviewed for a job in the upstairs office when the young woman began shivering despite the fact that it was a blistering hot Adelaide day outside. Lisa, the job applicant was indeed given the job and later said quote: “Someone died in your office didn't they?" Shirley responded yes, the office used to be a bedroom and in fact her mother had passed away in that bedroom. The woman explained that she was psychic and that is why she had been shivering at the interview. On another occasion, Lisa had been serving behind the bar in the Polo Room. The Polo Room is an upstairs bar and entertainment area at the Union, hired for parties, receptions etc. After clearing away she sought Shirley out to ask her "Who is the old soldier who stands on the edge of the dance floor?" Shirley established that the woman was talking about a ghost, dressed as a nineteenth century British Army officer. Now Shirley is a very practical lady, not given to flights of fancy. She confessed that she knew of no such person, and thought little more about it. Research later proved that the Union’s builder and first licensee John Herring had indeed served with the British Army in the Peninsula Wars. The psychic's description of her ghost's dress was entirely consistent with the type of uniform worn at the time. At times obligingly, but to the sceptical annoyance of hotel management others with psychic ability have asked to wander the hotel. Reportedly there are no less than four entities at the Union. Surprisingly without former knowledge several have sensed the strong paranormal presence of the British Army Soldier at the edge of the dance floor of the now Polo Room.