William Jolly, the grandson of James Jolly, rose to prominence and was elected Mayor of Bath, following in the footsteps of his father. Before ascending to the mayoralty, William had already made his mark on the city by serving as a member of the city council during the 1880s. During this time, he played a pivotal role in overhauling Bath’s water supply system in order to offer the expanding population reliable access to water for both households and businesses. 
 

By 1878, Jolly’s had moved into No. 13 Milsom Street and No. 14 Milsom Street by 1896, as well as acquiring properties at the rear of the store on John Street. This combination of civic responsibility and commercial growth that William Jolly spearheaded, helped secure both the city’s future and Jolly’s position at its heart.