Today even a modest advertisement in the local press can be prohibitively expensive. In 1854 rates must have been a tad more affordable if the advertisement placed by Stephen Filtness in the Swindon Advertiser is anything to go by. Stephen was born in Kent in 1813, but by the mid 1850s he was living in Swindon with his wife Ann and running the warehouse at 40 Newport Street. So what did they stock - well just about everything according to this advertisement. Where all may be furnished with goods of the best Of the various articles herein expressed. Namely, brushes of all sorts, for wet and dry rubbing Soft brushes for toilets and hard ones for scrubbing, Paint brushes, tooth brushes, hearth brushes and brooms, With mops of the best yard for the scrubbing of rooms. Shoe brushes, horse brushes, curry combs and tin tacks, Note paper, envelopes and good sealing wax. Smelling bottles, pins for the hair, and bed sacking, Bread trays, tea trays, glue and fine japa...