COBDEN BRIDGE BREWERY
AKA Bitterne Park Brewery, and W H Complin & Co
Manor Farm Road, Bitterne Triangle Southampton
Brewing started 1st March 1890, brewery built by W H Complin
Acquired by Fuller Smith & Turner 1898, then Courage in 1920 until 1921
Brewing ceased 1914.
Buildings demolished August 1985
This brewery was located between the River Itchen and Manor Farm Road at what is now known as Bitterne Triangle. The brewery was built in 1890 by Walter John Complin, who had a brewery at Holybourne, Alton, where the family had brewed since the early 18th Century. They had acquired the Old Shirley Brewery (Shirley Mills) in 1886, which had been run by his son Walter Henry Complin.
Larger premises were required so they built a new brewery on this site. It was later taken over by Fuller & Co, brewers of Chiswick, London. It will be seen later that Fullers did not brew here but used the premises for bottling beer brewed at their Chiswick brewery. In February 1898, Fullers wanted “a steady lad for bottle washing”, and in 1902, an advert appeared “Wanted a quick little boy for bottle labelling”.
The Brewery History Society (‘BHS’) has a history of this brewery and a lot of what follows in is taken from their helpful website, which I recommend that you visit to read the full article. The BHS says “The owner of the Holybourne brewery was Walter John Complin and he was in business with his two sons John Fowler Complin and Walter Henry Complin. They wished to pursue separate brewery careers, and on the 3rd November 1888 it was decided to split the two operations. The Old Shirley Brewery went to Walter Henry Complin and the Holybourne brewery was to carry on with Walter John Complin assisted by his other son John Fowler Complin. It was found that a new brewery was required in the Southampton area and Walter H Complin was only 24 years of age but he had plans for a new modern brewery on another site. The plans were for a 20 quarter brewery (a brew of 2,880 gallons) and to be brick built with ornate ironwork finishing off the tower. Stables, office and an off licence were to be provided.”
“On the 29th August 1889 a one-acre triangular piece of land with a road access of 15 feet was purchased, this was on the East bank of the River Itchen in Bitterne Southampton and was purchased for £350 from The National Liberal Land Company Limited of Charing Cross in London and The Gresham Life Assurance Society as joint owners.”
Cobden Bridge brewery, with permission
of the Brewery History Society
In newspapers of 22nd June 1889, tenders were requested for the erection of a brewery, stabling offices outbuildings etc at Bitterne near Southampton for W H Complin, Shirley, which was to be submitted by 6th July. On 29th June, there was a report of a new 10 quarter brewery to be built on the Bitterne Park Estate of Mr W H Complin of the Old Shirley Brewery. The plant was to be erected by Messrs Llewellyn & James, well known brewery engineers of Bristol. The new brewery was to have all the latest improvements to brew “sound and pure stock, bitter and light family ales. The South Hants water will be used for all purposes. The fermenting vessels will be arranged so that either the skimming cleansing or Yorkshire Stone Square system can be applied.” It went on to say a feature was that iron has been eliminated from all vessels which is “fatal to the proper production of the light clear ale so much recommended by the medical profession and which is becoming the favourite drink of all classes”.
On the 22nd February 1890, there is a ‘Change of Address’ announcement, stating that Mr W H Complin, having terminated his lease of the Old Shirley Brewery, will open new premises at Bitterne on March 1st 1890, the Cobden Bridge Brewery Bitterne Southampton. There was also a price list, for XXXX Strong Ale 1s 6d a gall, XXX Mild ale 1s 4d, XX Mild beer 1s, Bitter Ale 1s 6d, Family Ale 1s 2d, Bitter Beer 1s, Stout 1s 6d, Porter 1s. Discount 5% COD.
Directories of 1890/91 show “Complin Walter J Cobden Bridge Brewery Bitterne Park”. From the 1891 Stevens Directory, it is WH Complin at the Cobden Bridge Brewery, also as a wine and spirit merchant. This continues until 1898 when the entry is Complin W H & Co Cobden Bridge Brewery Bitterne Park, and also Fuller & Co Chiswick, Brewery stores 76 Millbrook Road Southampton. By 1899 the reference is just to Fuller & Co Cobden Bridge Brewery, as remained the case until the 1912-13 Kelly’s Directory.
Advert from 1891 directory
Label from Cobden Bridge brewery, run by W H Complin, with permission from the Brewery Histroy society
The BHS website goes on to say that Walter Complin lived at Abbotsbury House in St Denys just across the river from the site. The building of the new brewery was financed by a mortgage on most of the licensed properties to the value of £25,633 from The National Liberal Land Company. On the 10th March 1890 Walter John (father) and Walter Henry (son) jointly mortgaged property to Mary Elizabeth Imerson of Lymington, to secure £900. Mary was later to become Walter Henry’s wife. After Walter John’s death on the 8th September 1890, this loan transferred to just Walter Henry’s name. Two days later Walter Henry and his brother John Fowler took a mortgage of £2,500 secured on licensed houses and the brewery buildings.
In September 1893, Walter Henry Complin applied for a retail licence for the brewery. He had a wholesale licence but he wanted to sell single dozen bottles direct to the public. This was Declined. In September 1895 an application was granted for an off beer licence at Cobden Bridge Brewery on condition they supplied nothing less than 4 1/2 gal casks or a dozen bottles of beer.
The BHS continues “On 11th August 1896 Walter (Henry) found it necessary to take on another partner and an agreement was made between him and James William Penton of Bow Road, Wateringbury, Kent a brewer. This partnership did not last long, and on the 4th July 1898 they both decided to sell the brewery. The reasons could have been financial due to the large amount of borrowing or perhaps a disagreement with his partner.”
I am not sure about this date, and believe that the actual sale, or transfer, took place earlier, perhaps the end of 1897. In September 1897, Mr Complin was applying for a licence ‘for premises to be erected and called the Bitterne Park Hotel’ which was refused. Also, in the Hampshire Independent of 8th January 1898 there is an announcement of the brewery belonging to Messrs Complin & Co had been taken over by Messrs Fuller Smith & Co. Chiswick Brewery. The Licence was transferred on 12 February 1898 from Walter Henry Complin and James William Panton, to Frank Large. The sale included 10 freehold pubs, two freehold cottages and one leasehold pub, according to the BHS. The houses were The Waterloo, White Lion, Good Intent, Osborne House, Yew Tree, York Inn, Anglesea Tavern and the Royal Standard, all in the Southampton area. All these properties were freehold save for The Osborne House which was leasehold.
On 3rd February 1898 an advert announces that “Fuller & Co Chiswick” had moved their stores from Millbrook Road to the brewery. On 19th March 1898, there is a notice for the sale of the freehold of these stores, with a building plot. They also advertised India Pale Ale, XK Bitter Pale Ale, A K Speciality light bitter pale ale, X mild, Amber ale, Double Stout, Single Stout and Porter. And in bottles, Pale Ale, India Pale, Stout and Extra Stout.
There then started a battle to obtain permission to develop the business of the site. On 3rd September 1898 there is a report that Frank Large gave notice of an application for a licence for premises to be constructed for use for sale of beer cider and perry on and off the premises on land situate on and adjoining Cobden Bridge Brewery. On 1st October it was reported the brewery only had an off beer licence, and they applied for an on beer licence for premises adjoining the brewery. There had been objections from locals about customers drinking outside so it was said that it was best to drink inside without breaking the law. Permission was granted. I am not certain however that these premises were constructed.
Three years later in September 1901 an application was made for a 7 day provisional licence to sell beer to be consumed on or off the premises. It was proposed to completely enlarge, and practically rebuild the premises and “since the present owners bought the premises they had not brewed beer at the brewery”. As I said earlier, it is likely that the brewing ceased on the site soon after the takeover with the brewery becoming a depot for delivery and bottling. However, the BHS refers to some references mentioning 1914 as the date when brewing ceased, as staff were called up to serve in WW1.
In January 1903 Frank Large applied to remove the licence for off sales that he held for the brewery, to a ‘house and premises situate at the corner of Manor Farm Road and a road leading to the brewery”. On 7th March the same application was made and refused. By 1905, the Brewery Tap was being used as stores, and Frank Large was still the manager.
In February 1918, there was a fire at the brewery. The roof of the wine and spirit store was alight, but only slight damage sustained. Two years later, in the Hampshire Advertiser of 20th November 1920, there is an auction notice “by order of Messrs Fuller Smith and Turner who have disposed of the Cobden Brewery and their Southampton properties” for the sale of 6 horses, vans trucks harnesses etc, Bottling plant corking and capsuling machines, 4hp electric motor, crates wine bottles furniture etc.
The BHS takes up the story; “On the 20th April 1920 Fullers approached Courage brewers of London and Alton via accountants Collins Tootell and Company to sell the brewery and the country houses. The asking price was £45,000 and the trade was described as 6,000 barrels per year, plus 7,000 gallons of wines and spirits. Courage replied with an offer of £34,000 but did not want the brewery or plant. (interesting it was still described as a brewery and plant). Fullers insisted on £38,000 but on the 21st June 1920 £34,000 was agreed with £20,000 on completion and £14,000 deposit.”
The BHS states that all the Southampton houses were now supplied by Courage Alton brewery some 40 miles away. The Cobden Bridge Brewery itself was auctioned on 21st January 1921. It was described in the sale catalogue as having 6,400 feet floor space with vacant possession and rights to construct a road to a wharf 70 feet by 30 feet on the East Bank of the River Itchen (never exercised). The last entry in directories is the 1922 Kelly’s.
The buyers used the site as a furniture store, and later it was used by contractors. In August 1984 the site was demolished and is now sheltered housing.
