James Eadie Ltd. - Burton-on-Trent, History, Details, Photographs

Established in Burton-on-Trent in the middle of the 19th century, this company operated an extensive estate of public houses throughout South Staffordshire. Born in Perthshire in 1827, the young James Eadie travelled south in 1842 to work for his uncle John Eadie, a tea dealer trading in Fazeley. Once settled, James Eadie started a business supplying malt to homebrew houses and common brewers in and around Fazeley. James Eadie's enterprise proved very successful and the firm's sales area extended to Burton-on-Trent. Making frequent visits to the brewing capital of the Midlands, James Eadie decided to implement a forward extension strategy for his business and established a brewery in Cross Street in 1852. Despite fierce competition, the brewery flourished and the company's growth was rapid. However, the company foundered shortly after it was registered in 1893 and went into liquidation in the summer of 1896. The brewery survived following restructuring. James Eadie was a benefactor of Fazeley and Burton and was responsible for the construction of chapels in both towns. When he died in June 1904 his personal estate totalled £337,966 [that's over £24m in today's money]. He lived in some comfort in Barrow Hall at Barrow-upon-Trent and also acquired an estate in Scotland. He was appointed Deputy Lieutenant of Banffshire in May 1900. The company and its tied estate of 308 public houses was acquired by Bass, Ratcliff and Gretton Ltd. in 1933. © Copyright. Images supplied by Digital Photographic Images.		If you have a genealogy story or query regarding this brewery you can contact me and I will post it here in addition to including your message within the website pages for Staffordshire Genealogy. “Make sure that the beer - four pints a week - goes to the troops under fire before any of the parties in the rear get a drop.” Winston Churchill

Established in Burton-on-Trent in the middle of the 19th century, this company operated an extensive estate of public houses throughout South Staffordshire.

Eadie's Rum Cask Label [c.1920's]

Born in Perthshire in 1827, the young James Eadie travelled south in 1842 to work for his uncle John Eadie, a tea dealer trading in Fazeley. Once settled, James Eadie started a business supplying malt to homebrew houses and common brewers in and around Fazeley.

James Eadie's enterprise proved very successful and the firm's sales area extended to Burton-on-Trent. Making frequent visits to the brewing capital of the Midlands, James Eadie decided to implement a forward extension strategy for his business and established a brewery in Cross Street in 1852.

Despite fierce competition, the brewery flourished and the company's growth was rapid. However, the company foundered shortly after it was registered in 1893 and went into liquidation in the summer of 1896. The brewery survived following restructuring.

James Eadie was a benefactor of Fazeley and Burton and was responsible for the construction of chapels in both towns. When he died in June 1904 his personal estate totalled £337,966 [that's over £24m in today's money]. He lived in some comfort in Barrow Hall at Barrow-upon-Trent and also acquired an estate in Scotland. He was appointed Deputy Lieutenant of Banffshire in May 1900.

The company and its tied estate of 308 public houses was acquired by Bass, Ratcliff and Gretton Ltd. in 1933.
© Copyright. Images supplied by Digital Photographic Images.

If you have a genealogy story or query regarding this brewery you can contact me and I will post it here in addition to including your message within the website pages for Staffordshire Genealogy.

Winston Churchill by Arthur Pan [1943]
“Make sure that the beer - four pints a week - goes to the troops under fire before any of the parties in the rear get a drop.”
Winston Churchill

History of James Eadie Ltd. at Burton-on-Trent in the county of Staffordshire. Research is augmented with photographs, beer labels, pump clips, stories of local folklore, newspaper articles and a genealogy connections section for those studying their family history.