Collection GB 0074 ACC/0735 - WATNEY COMBE REID AND COMPANY LIMITED {BREWERS}

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0074 ACC/0735

Title

WATNEY COMBE REID AND COMPANY LIMITED {BREWERS}

Date(s)

  • 1766-1865 (Creation)

Level of description

Collection

Extent and medium

0.08 linear metres

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

Watney, Combe, Reid and Co Ltd was formed in 1898 when a merger was negotiated between Watney and Co Ltd of the Stag Brewery, Pimlico; Combe and Co Ltd of the Wood Yard Brewery, Long Acre and Reid's Brewery Co Ltd, of the Griffin Brewery, Clerkenwell. Following the merger the company was the largest brewing concern in the United Kingdom, and was based at Watney's Stag Brewery in Pimlico.

The Stag Brewhouse and Brewery, Pimlico, was founded in 1636 by John Greene and his son Sir William Greene. In 1837 James Watney, a miller, bought a quarter share in the Stag Brewery, alongside John Elliot. From 1849 the firm was known as Elliot, Watney and Co. John Elliot withdrew from the business in 1850, remaining a partner in name only until 1858 when he retired. The firm became known as James Watney and Co. In 1885 Watney and Co Ltd was registered as a limited liability company.

Combe and Co Ltd was founded in 1722 by John Shackley in a former timber yard off Long Acre, London. In 1739 the business was acquired by William Gyfford who enlarged the premises, trading as Gyfford and Co. In 1787 the brewery was purchased by Harvey Christian Combe, a malt factor, but it was not until 1839 that the firm began to trade as Combe and Co. The Wood Yard Brewery closed in 1905 but the Combe family continued to take a major role in the management of Watney, Combe, Reid and Co Ltd.

In 1757 Richard Meux and Mungo Murray acquired the Jackson's Brewery in Mercer Street. When this was damaged in a major fire they constructed new premises at Liquorpond Street (now Clerkenwell Road). In 1793 Andrew Reid joined the business which became known as Meux, Reid and Co. In 1816 the Meux family left the business which changed its name to Reid and Co. The company was registered in 1888 as Reid's Brewery Co Ltd. On the merger with Watney and Combe it ceased to brew.

In 1956 Watney, Combe, Reid and Co Ltd decided that the Stag Brewery offered no further scope for expansion. Mann, Crossman and Paulin Ltd of Whitechapel was acquired to provide a new London brewery, and the company name was changed to Watney Mann Ltd.

Archival history

GB 0074 ACC/0735 1766-1865 Collection 0.08 linear metres Watney Combe Reid and Co Ltd , brewers

Watney, Combe, Reid and Co Ltd was formed in 1898 when a merger was negotiated between Watney and Co Ltd of the Stag Brewery, Pimlico; Combe and Co Ltd of the Wood Yard Brewery, Long Acre and Reid's Brewery Co Ltd, of the Griffin Brewery, Clerkenwell. Following the merger the company was the largest brewing concern in the United Kingdom, and was based at Watney's Stag Brewery in Pimlico.

The Stag Brewhouse and Brewery, Pimlico, was founded in 1636 by John Greene and his son Sir William Greene. In 1837 James Watney, a miller, bought a quarter share in the Stag Brewery, alongside John Elliot. From 1849 the firm was known as Elliot, Watney and Co. John Elliot withdrew from the business in 1850, remaining a partner in name only until 1858 when he retired. The firm became known as James Watney and Co. In 1885 Watney and Co Ltd was registered as a limited liability company.

Combe and Co Ltd was founded in 1722 by John Shackley in a former timber yard off Long Acre, London. In 1739 the business was acquired by William Gyfford who enlarged the premises, trading as Gyfford and Co. In 1787 the brewery was purchased by Harvey Christian Combe, a malt factor, but it was not until 1839 that the firm began to trade as Combe and Co. The Wood Yard Brewery closed in 1905 but the Combe family continued to take a major role in the management of Watney, Combe, Reid and Co Ltd.

In 1757 Richard Meux and Mungo Murray acquired the Jackson's Brewery in Mercer Street. When this was damaged in a major fire they constructed new premises at Liquorpond Street (now Clerkenwell Road). In 1793 Andrew Reid joined the business which became known as Meux, Reid and Co. In 1816 the Meux family left the business which changed its name to Reid and Co. The company was registered in 1888 as Reid's Brewery Co Ltd. On the merger with Watney and Combe it ceased to brew.

In 1956 Watney, Combe, Reid and Co Ltd decided that the Stag Brewery offered no further scope for expansion. Mann, Crossman and Paulin Ltd of Whitechapel was acquired to provide a new London brewery, and the company name was changed to Watney Mann Ltd.

Received in 1960 (ACC/0735).

Records of Watney Combe Reid and Company Limited, comprising deeds and documents relating to Victoria Tavern, Willesden Lane, Kilburn, Willesden, 1865; deeds and documents relating to The George Public House, near the Pig Market, Finchley, 1828, 1850; deeds relating to 'The Three Bowls' Public House, Acton, 1796-1810 and deeds and documents relating to The Cock Public House, Kilburn, Willesden, 1766-1800.

ACC/0735/001 - ACC/0735/022.

Available for general access.

Copyright rests with the depositor.

English

Fit

Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm

For further records of Watney Combe Reid at the LMA see ACC/1399 and ACC/2979.

For records of Watney Mann held at the LMA, see ACC/1311, ACC/1320, ACC/1348 and ACC/1290.

For further records of Watney Combe Reid , Watney Mann, Combe and Co Ltd and Reid's Brewery Co Ltd see also Westminster City Archives.

For more information please see Hurford Janes The Red Barrel. A History of Watney Mann (1963) or Walter Pearce Serocold The Story of Watneys (1949). Also Lesley Richmond and Alison Turton The Brewing Industry: a guide to historical records (1990), LMA Library Reference 60.43 RIC.

Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

July to October 2009 Combe and Co Ltd , brewers Reid's Brewery Co Ltd Company archives Property Law Legal documents People People by occupation Personnel Food industry personnel Brewers Breweries Architecture Buildings Commercial buildings Public houses Deeds Information sources Documents Business records Watney and Co Ltd , brewers Watney Mann Ltd , brewers Watney Combe Reid and Co Ltd , brewers Brent London England UK Western Europe Europe Ealing Middlesex Willesden Acton Kilburn City of Westminster Barnet Hertfordshire Finchley

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Received in 1960 (ACC/0735).

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Records of Watney Combe Reid and Company Limited, comprising deeds and documents relating to Victoria Tavern, Willesden Lane, Kilburn, Willesden, 1865; deeds and documents relating to The George Public House, near the Pig Market, Finchley, 1828, 1850; deeds relating to 'The Three Bowls' Public House, Acton, 1796-1810 and deeds and documents relating to The Cock Public House, Kilburn, Willesden, 1766-1800.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

ACC/0735/001 - ACC/0735/022.

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Available for general access.

Conditions governing reproduction

Copyright rests with the depositor.

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

  • Latin

Language and script notes

English

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

For further records of Watney Combe Reid at the LMA see ACC/1399 and ACC/2979.

For records of Watney Mann held at the LMA, see ACC/1311, ACC/1320, ACC/1348 and ACC/1290.

For further records of Watney Combe Reid , Watney Mann, Combe and Co Ltd and Reid's Brewery Co Ltd see also Westminster City Archives.

Finding aids

Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Related units of description

Related descriptions

Notes area

Alternative identifier(s)

Access points

Place access points

Name access points

Genre access points

Description control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

London Metropolitan Archives

Rules and/or conventions used

Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

Status

Level of detail

Dates of creation revision deletion

Language(s)

  • English

Script(s)

    Sources

    Accession area