Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1870-1983 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
4.22 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.
Repository
Archival history
GB 0074 ACC/2979 1870-1983 Collection 4.22 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.
This collection was deposited in 1991 by the Company Secretary of Watney Mann and Truman (Holdings) Ltd (ACC/2979).
Records of Watney, Combe, Reid and Co Ltd and Watney Mann Ltd, 1870-1983, comprising Director's minute books, 1898-1968; General Meetings minute books, 1898-1973; photograph albums, mainly showing public houses in London, ?1870-1880; photographs of Truman delivery vehicles (Watney Mann merged with Truman), 1895-1983; press cuttings relating to Sears Holdings Group bid for Watney Mann Ltd, 1959.
ACC/2979/001 - ACC/2979/082.
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/0735.
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 Watney Combe Reid and Co Ltd , brewers Watney Mann Ltd , brewers Company archives People People by occupation Personnel Food industry personnel Brewers Breweries Newspaper press Press Press cuttings Architecture Buildings Commercial buildings Public houses Communications media Information sciences Books Publications Albums (documents) Photograph albums Education records Managers minutes Information sources Documents Business records Pimlico City of Westminster London England UK Western Europe Europe
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
This collection was deposited in 1991 by the Company Secretary of Watney Mann and Truman (Holdings) Ltd (ACC/2979).
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Records of Watney, Combe, Reid and Co Ltd and Watney Mann Ltd, 1870-1983, comprising Director's minute books, 1898-1968; General Meetings minute books, 1898-1973; photograph albums, mainly showing public houses in London, ?1870-1880; photographs of Truman delivery vehicles (Watney Mann merged with Truman), 1895-1983; press cuttings relating to Sears Holdings Group bid for Watney Mann Ltd, 1959.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
ACC/2979/001 - ACC/2979/082.
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/0735.
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
Notes area
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
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