Birmingham Breweries

Allen-Brewery

Bordesley

The Allen Brewery was established behind the Moseley Arms in Ravenhurst Street. The pub was already a homebrew house when victualler John Allen took over the business in 1854. A 31 year-old brewer and maltster from Irthlingborough in Northamptonshire, he was responsible for the development of the brewery at the rear of the pub. He lived above the Moseley Arms with his wife Sarah. Also hailing from Northamptonshire, she was born in 1824 in the village of Raunds. When the couple moved into Ravenhurst Street they were new to Birmingham. By 1881 John Allen had secured hotel status for the Moseley Arms. Moreover, the brewery at the pub moved beyond merely providing ales for the counter and was elevated to common brewer status. By the 1891 census Benjamin Allen had taken over the running of the brewery. Documented as a Wholesale Bottler in the survey, he was probably supplying beer to other beershops and off licences in the locality. He had also married a locally-born woman called Pattie. Samuel Bibb was employed as a carter and no doubt was engaged in the transportation of the bottled ales to the clients of the flourishing Allen Brewery. Benjamin Allen eventually installed a manager at the pub whilst he concentrated on the brewing business. The Moseley Arms was taken over by Peter Walker & Co.Ltd. by 1900 and brewing would have ceased. The Walker Brewery was founded in 1860 at the Willow Brewery in Wrexham. They opened the Clarence Street Brewery at Burton-on-Trent in 1883 and developed an estate of tied houses. The company was acquired by the Aston-based Atkinson's Brewery in 1925.
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Ashted-Brewery Co. Ltd.

Ashted

The Ashted Brewery Co.Ltd was registered in 1880 for the purpose of acquiring the business of George Wilkinson and Co. [see Birmingham Town Brewery below].

Atkinson's-Brewery Ltd.

Aston

Founded in 1855 as Atkinson's Brothers, this company was based at the Aston Park Brewery. Their legacy can still be found in the fabric of many Birmingham pubs. They did operate public houses in the surrounding areas, particularly in the Black Country. The company was acquired by Mitchell's and Butler's in 1959.

Birmingham-Town-Brewery

Ashted

This brewery was located on Ashted Row and had a tap house called the Brewery Inn fronting the street. The large maltings and brewery are marked on this map dating from 1888. The brewery and large yard occupied the north-west corner of Ashted Row and Windsor Street. The pub fronted Ashted Row (beneath where it says Birmingham Town Brewery). The brewery was founded by Thomas Smith who was first a cooper and, later, a retail brewer. The business was acquired in the mid-1860's and later expanded by George Wilkinson and Co. The 1891 ratebook for Duddeston detailed offices, steam brewery, stores, stack, steam engine and premises. The Ashted Brewery was registered in 1880 for the purpose of acquiring the business of George Wilkinson and Co. However, this company only lasted for a decade and brewing on the site ceased in 1890. The pub remained open for another fourteen years but disappeared from Birmingham's Trade Directories after 1904.

Cheshire's-Brewery Ltd.

Smethwick

This fondly-remembered Windmill Brewery was based in Windmill Lane, Smethwick. The company was registered in October 1896 and two years later they acquired the Birmingham pubs of Threlfall's Brewery Co.Ltd. Cheshire's were themselves bought out in 1913 by Mitchell's and Butler's.

City-Brewery Ltd.

Nechells

The receivers were brought in for this company on May 18th 1899. Located at 20-21 Cato Street North, the brewery was something of a stop-start affair from the beginning. It was originally registered in February 1890 and, because it was established to acquire the old brewery of Richard Bray Hutton, traded as Hutton's Brewery Ltd. However, the business faltered and went into voluntary liquidation on March 26th 1891. Combining the old Hutton's Brewery and George Jerrams Brewery in Oldbury, the company was re-invented and registered as The City Brewery Ltd. on November 14th 1894. The new enterprise lasted for five years before getting into serious difficulties.

Charles-Cox

Lozells

I learned of this brewer when looking up a pub called Parliament House on Ashted Row. By 1883 this pub had become part of a small estate owned by Charles Cox. The trade directory of that year records him as a "maltster at Birchfield Road and 362� Summer Lane; hop merchant Birchfield Road and 11-12 Well Street, Hockley; brewer Birchfield Road; & Parliament House, 39 Ashted Row & 11-12 Well Street, Hockley; offices Birchfield Road." Charles Cox died two years later on April 12th 1885 when he was living at Bromford House in Lozells. Described then as a Maltster, Brewer and Hop Merchant he left the considerable estate of �5,797 (over �350k in today's money). His will was proved by his wife Lydia, Charles Haywood Cox, a Jeweller's Clerk, and Herbert Albert Cox, Maltster and Brewer. I assume the latter son continued the brewery business.

Thomas-Creed Brewery

Duddeston

The name of Thomas Creed emerged when I was doing some research on the Old Black Horse in Ashted. He was the owner of this pub in 1870 in addition to operating the Black Lion in Woodcock Street and being documented as a maltster at Howe Street and Heneage Street, suggesting the pubs formed part of a small pub estate. At some stage however, the Old Black Horse became part of William Butler's tied estate so I assume Thomas Creed's mini empire was bought up by Butler's Crown Brewery.

Dare's-Brewery Ltd.

Highgate

Dare's was located at the Southend Brewery on Belgrave Road. The origins of William Dare & Son, a family-owned company, goes back to the 19th century, though they only registered as Dare's Brewery Ltd in August 1927. In addition to producing their own beers, Dare's had a bottling plant which I know was used by Worthington's. The Southend Brewery was eventually acquired by Davenport's in 1961 by which time the firm had a tied estate of 30 pubs.
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Edward-Devis

Lee Bank

This advertisement for the Devis Brewery appeared in the 1847 Wrightson and Webb trade directory. Maltster, Hop Merchant and Brewer Edward Devis was based at No.92 Ryland Road, Lee Bank. The 1869 White's trade directory lists a James Devis at this address but also included the maltster Edwin George Hodgkins. The premises were later the base for the Anchor Brewery owned by John Stone and Son.

Edkins-and-Guy

Sparkbrook

The Black Horse in Sparkbrook was the home of Edkins and Guy, common brewers for the area for much of the 19th century and for the early part of the 20th century. One of the earliest references to the family who owned this brewery is that of Ann Edkins. She appeared in the 1859 Ratebook for Aston where it lists a Malthouse and Kiln in the Manor of Bordesley. The original Black Horse was set back from the Stratford Road whereas this building, constructed in 1880, is right on the corner of Stratford Road and Kyotts Lake Road. In the 1861 census Ann Edkins is recorded as a 65 year-old widow. Hailing from Berkswell, Warwickshire, she was listed as the Licensed Victualler of the Black Horse. 22 year-old son David Edkins worked as a brewer, whilst 33 year-old Ann M. Guy was listed as a barmaid. Ann was also born in Berkswell but David was a Brummie. This helps to trace the movements of Ann Edkins. She employed 50 year-old William Wheatcroft as a labourer. He was born in the village of Rowington. Solihull born Thomas Powers was engaged as an ostler, delivering the beers produced behind the pub to other boozers in the area. William Edkins lived at No.73 Stratford Road. Born in Tamworth in 1831, he was listed as a Brewery Agent. He had clearly moved into his own property to live with his 32 year-old wife Sarah but continued to work for the family business. As an agent, it was his role to sell the beer into other public houses in the Birmingham area. The family rebuilt The Black Horse in 1880. The 1891 Ratebook for Aston lists a Licensed Public House, Brewery, Yard and Premises. By 1906 David Edkins and Mary Ann Guy were listed as occupiers and owners. The ownership of the pub remained for many years with the Guy family who resided at The Sycamores, Stratford Road, Shirley. The Black Horse later became an Atkinson's pub.
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Holder's-Brewery Ltd.

Aston

Holder's Brewery was founded c1872 by John Charles Holder and was based at the Midland Brewery in Nova Scotia Street. This was just inside the boundary between Birmingham and Aston. The tiled mouldings, blue faience facade and the glazed wall mouldings of the Craven Arms in Upper Gough Street remain ultra rare advertisements for Holder's Ales. The company was acquired by Mitchell's and Butler's in 1919 and the Midland Brewery was closed in 1923.
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Holt-Brewery Company Ltd.

Aston

This brewery was founded in February 1887 although the company was established to formally acquire the brewery of Henry Fulford created in 1872. Holt's were fairly aggressive and acquired other local breweries in order to gain and secure their share of the Birmingham market. They expanded their estate considerably when they bought the Sparkbrook-based Grigg & Brettell Ltd in 1912 and Myatt's of Wolverhampton in 1927. By the time the company had 250 public houses, Holt's were themselves acquired by Ansell's Brewery Ltd in 1934.
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Benjamin-Kelsey Ltd.

Ashted

Much of my discoveries about this brewery emerged when I was researching the Dog and Partridge on Ashted Row. It was in 1857 that the association with this pub and the famous Kelsey family started. Benjamin Kelsey founded a brewery in Ashted, starting a company that would live for another century. Before taking over the licence of the Dog and Partridge he had previously kept the White Hart in Great Brook Street. In the 1861 census he was documented as a 34 year-old Birmingham-born Licensed Victualler. His parents were Benjamin Booth Kelsey and Drusilla Stokes, a couple who were married in St.Phillips on November 6th 1825. Benjamin was born just over a year later in January 1827. The spring water around Ashted was well regarded and ideal for brewing. Benjamin Kelsey proved to be a very successful brewer and, in what today is known as vertical integration, he also became a Maltster and Hop Merchant supplying a number of other pubs in the area. Such was his success in this field, he decided to concentrate his efforts in brewing, handing over the running of the Dog and Partridge to John Seeley Kelsey. The successful brewing business enabled the Kelsey's to develop a modest estate of public houses, including The Ashted Tavern on the corner of Henry Street and Ashted Row and the White Hart in Cromwell Street. Indeed, John Kelsey moved from the Dog and Partridge to the latter shortly before his death on October 5th 1878. His will was proved by Benjamin Kelsey and valued at �4,000, an enormous sum of money for the period. The Kelsey empire continued to grow until, in 1933, the company merged with H.E.Thornley of Leamington Spa. Trading as Thornley Kelsey Ltd., the new company eventually moved all brewing to Leamington. When they decided to concentrate on their wine wholesaling operations in 1968, Thornley Kelsey closed the brewery and sold their estate of 68 tied houses. The Bath Row-based Davenport's Brewery acquired the majority of the pub estate.
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Thomas-Kirkland

Hurst Street

The malthouse of Thomas Kirkland was a very small business and he probably only supplied a small number of local outlets. It was based at 76 Lower Hurst Street Thomas Kirkland was born in the Leicestershire town of Appleby in 1815 and was trading in Lower Hurst Street by the late 1850's. The business seems to have folded following his death in the late 1870's. However, he passed on his skills to his son Walter who continued to work as a maltster whilst living in Sherbourne Road.

The Nechells-Brewery

Nechells

The Nechells Brewery was located behind the New Inns on Nechells Park Road. The pub itself was the tap house for the brewery. The pub had been trading for some thirty years before Alfred Hood acquired the property. However, he was the man responsible for the successful expansion of the brewing business. Alfred Hood succeeded James Sandiford as licensee of the New Inns. He owned a number of pubs in the area, including The White Horse in Long Acre, and was a successful common brewer. The ratebook described The New Inn as a Licensed Public House with Brewhouse, Maltroom, Stable, Loft and Premises for which the estimated annual ground rent was �80.0s.0d. Seeing off their competitors, The Holt Brewery Company acquired the building and closed the brewery around the turn of the 20th century. The company initiated alterations to the building in 1904 - the extension of the pub and installation of public toilets in the yard may have occupied the former brewing premises.

Rushton's-Brewery Ltd

Aston

Based at The Lion Brewery in Aston, this company was founded by the maltster William Rushton. Registered in 1898, the brewery had a tied estate of around 100 pubs before Ansell's acquired them in 1923. This was following the death of the founder's son.

Frederick-Smith Ltd.

Aston

Frederick Smith started his own brewery when he was just 21. He was however part of a family rooted in the industry of beer production. His father, William Smith, was a master cooper before buying a beershop in Gosta Green. A successful publican, William was able to establish his own brewery in Aston. This was called The Model, the original brewery of this name. However, this was not the Model Brewery operated by son Frederick. When William Smith died in 1878 and, in order to provide for a widow and eight children, the business, including the Queen's Hotel, Brewery and Maltings, was sold off. Although the brewery was bought by the Atkinson brothers, two of William Smith's eldest sons, Thomas and Henry, were able to buy two of their father's pubs for themselves. Frederick Smith was only 18 years old and took the experience he had gained working with his father and became an employee at Atkinson's. After two more years of valuable training and experience, he went independent on August 18th 1880 by acquiring the neighbouring Victoria Brewery. These premises were further down the Lichfield Road in Aston. Frederick Smith was a very astute businessman and he was able to expand the business. By 1888 he had purchased adjoining land and built a larger brewery to supply an increasing number of outlets. This was called the Aston Model Brewery. In 1892 he built a sixty-quarter malt house and three years later the business was registered as a limited company. Continued expansion included the acquisition of more public houses and an extension to the brewery. A bottling plant was added around 1898. To ensure continuity of the business, Frederick Smith sent his eldest son Frederick to study at the Brewing School of the University of Birmingham. Younger son Sydney meanwhile concentrated on looking after the brewery�s tied house estate. The brewery was significantly improved in 1922. In addition to new brewing plant, a fresh artesian well was sunk to increase the online volume of the noted Aston water. In 1927 King George V knighted Frederick Smith for his services to the communities of Aston and Birmingham. The company was acquired by Butler's of Wolverhampton in 1955. This fine etched glass window for the Smith's Model Brewery can be found at The Model public house, formerly the Queen's Head in Langley Green.
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Vulcan-Brewery

Aston

Most Brummies and even those who whizzed past Aston on the M6 knew the landmark of the tower at H.P. Sauce factory. It wasn't a million miles away from the home of the Vulcan Brewery which officially traded out of Tower Road but was established in Park Road. This advert provides us with a small glimpse of what the site was like. The brewery was founded in 1878 by Birmingham-born Alfred Homer when he was 42 years-old. He was assisted by his son Alfred Jnr. Alfred Homer had grown up in a pub because his father and mother kept the Britannia in Brewery Street. The business was very successful and by the mid-1890's deliveries were being made to 56 tied houses. Indeed, Alfred and his wife Mary moved out to an upmarket residence on the Lichfield Road. Their Amberley House was a close neighbour to Ash Villa where another brewer, Alfred Hood, lived. Alfred Homer died in 1895, three years before the Vulcan Brewery became a limited company. Mitchell's and Butler's acquired the business in 1899 and the brewery's site was sold to H.P.Sauce.