MESSRS J & W CROUCH
65 East Street
Also known as Thomas Chidell & Co, Yeomans Brewery, and St Mary’s Hotel
Brewing Started Circa 1803
Taken over by Thomas Chidell & Co March 1831
Ceased brewing Circa 1843
I am afraid this is another one of those breweries where I reach a conclusion shown later, but with no direct evidence and still with doubts!
The first reference to this brewery I find is in the 1803 directory, showing Messrs Crouch East Street. This appears again in 1811. In the Holden directory of the same year, the entry is “Crouch William, brewer East St”. The final reference found is in Pigots Hampshire directory of 1823/4 which refers this time to James Crouch East Street. This was therefore a business carried on by William and James Crouch, as confirmed in later newspaper notices.
The Shirley brewery and Wheatsheaf brewery pages refer to John Parsons, born October 1796. According to an article on the Brewery History Society website relating to the Shirley brewery, Parsons married Ann Amelia Crouch, the daughter of local maltster William Crouch, on 1st December 1819, but I am not sure if Parsons was associated with this brewery.
James Crouch died in July 1826 aged 61, described as a brewer and maltster, and his estate was administered by James Crouch Junior.
In newspapers of 18th December 1830, there is a report of a break in at the Counting House of Jas Crouch brewer Lower East Street, when his ‘desk was plundered’. It looks as if the business was continued for only a few months after that, as the Hampshire Advertiser of 26th March 1831 runs a notice whereby Thomas Chidell and Co respectfully informed their friends and the public, that they had taken the business, for many years conducted by Messrs J and W Crouch, as maltsters and brewers in Marsh Lane. They hoped, by having a regular supply of malt, hops, and genuine beer, to merit continuance of those favours conferred on their predecessors. The wine and spirit business was to be continued as before from 29 High Street.
I believe that William Crouch died in September 1833. His wife was Ann (or Anna) Maria Crouch. A notice in the Hampshire Advertiser of 14th June 1834 stated that “All persons having a claim on the estate of William Crouch late of the Yeoman Inn Southampton Victualler deceased” should send any claims to his Administratrix Harriett Crouch at the Yeoman Inn. Immediately below this notice is a notice for the sale by Harriet Crouch of household furniture and effects of the Yeoman Inn, including articles and equipment “of the Inn and liquor shop and other effects”.
Time for some background, which I feel is relevant. The St Mary’s Hotel was at No 52 East Street on the 1846 town map. Tony Gallagher in his book ‘Southampton’s Inns and Taverns’ puts it at No 65. He also says the Hotel had its own brewery in 1843 when Mrs Higgins was the landlady. She does indeed appear in the 1843 directory, (I have only seen one for that year) at No 52 but with no occupation shown. Also at No 52, are three other individuals; a Harriet Cozens, (dressmaker), J W Beavis (builder) and William Mayoss, (Grocer).
The St Mary’s Hotel was previously known as the Yeoman. They regularly held inquests here, and newspapers of 13th March 1841 describe the Hotel as “late Yeoman”. Also, in December 1844 in a Court case, the accused was seen going in to the “Yeomans, or St Mary’s Hotel”. Another witness was in the Yeoman. The earliest reference I see to the Yeoman Inn, East Street, is in 1827 and newspaper entries would suggest on or before 1841.
Five years later in a report of a court case there is reference to a gang of thieves, having a boy with them,” living in the town at what was formerly the St Mary’s Hotel Tap but which was now known as the Jolly Tar Beershop…” There is further reference to this name in 1851.The Hotel Tap had changed to the Jolly Tar by 1845.
The HCC Archives refer to deeds of the 'St Mary's Hotel', East Street, formerly known as the Yeoman’s brewery and malthouse, with a cottage, 4 Cozens Court, adjoining, and with plans and schedules of deeds, 1854-1931.
I believe that we can therefore place William Crouch at what was later known as the St Mary’s Hotel. Mrs Higgins was a brewer here, as we saw earlier so it is quite likely that this was the site of the Crouch brewery.
Tony Gallagher in his book Southampton’s Inns and Taverns list a Yeoman Inn at Hanover Buildings, with the Yeoman Tap in East Street being it’s tap, and that William Crouch was the landlord in the early 1820’s This is another ‘Crouch and Yeoman’ connection, although I confess I can’t explain why Crouch would be landlord of the tap for the Yeoman Inn at Hanover Buildings, as well as what became St Mary’s Hotel, unless the Hanover Buildings Yeoman is in fact in East Street!
To continue the history timeline. In March 1835 there is a Court case, Chidell v Crouch, where the claimant, a brewer, took action against the daughter/administratrix of her father’s estate (Harriett Crouch). The sum said to be due was £67.10s being a quarters rent for the Yeoman pub which the deceased kept. The verdict was for Chidell. In newspapers of 11th April 1835, a month later, there is a case alleging the theft of 2 casks and one barrel, the property of Mr Chiddell, by a Mr Major. The firm of Chidell & Sargeant supplied beer to the Yeoman Inn but did not sell the casks. There is reference to them as ‘brewers’, and wine merchants at 29 High Street.
Charles Quick of the ‘Quick’ brewing family (see the Wheatsheaf brewery page) was landlord of the Yeoman Inn from February 1838, to March 1839. He married on 22nd February 1838 and was described as being at the Yeoman Inn East Street. By December 1841 he was in the Insolvent Debtor’s Court. He owed £430 including costs to Mr Hattatt, brewer and spirit merchant (see the Hattatt brewery page). He ran up debts of £500 which were paid by his father, George Quick of the Royal York Hotel (see the Royal York Hotel page). Quick had received stock from Mr Messum, clerk to Mr Hattatt, and when Quick left, he owed £350 to Hattatt. Rent for the pub is also mentioned, but it is not clear if Hattatt was the owner, as well as the supplier of ale and spirits.
Directories do not help as there is no reference to any of the above names in 1834, 1835 or 1839. In 1836 Thomas Chidell, and Chidell & Sargeant, wine merchants are listed at 29 High Street. I can't find Mrs Higgins in newspapers, or the 1845 Directory, but I do not doubt that Tony Gallagher is correct about her being a brewer. Remember Harriet Cozens at No 52 with Mrs Higgins? Was she later the Harriett Crouch, the Administratrix of William Crouch as seen earlier, reinforcing a further link perhaps.
In November 1843 there appears a notice for the St Mary’s Hotel East Street; “W H Bridgen having completed the extensive improvements in every department of the above “announces that as a wine merchant he can offer a large and well selected stock not to be surpassed in the South of England”. During the 1840s 50s the hotel is referred to as a gin palace or gin shop ‘at the hotel section’.
Perhaps the business continued brewing until late 1843 when it was taken over and the business concentrated on the wine and spirit side.
I conclude therefore that the Messrs Crouch brewery was at the St Mary’s Hotel, operating from premises previously known as the Yeoman, or Yeomans Inn. Perhaps Chidell already owned the Hotel, and let it to Crouch who brewed here, before being acquired by Chidell who were mainly wine & spirit merchants. I also think it is very possible that this brewery was taken over by J F Hattatt, bearing in mind some similarities in trading names.
The HCC Archives referred to earlier also have a Licence to David Faber to transfer the remainder of a lease of these premises to Strong & Co of Romsey granted by the Corporation of in 1897. It was then leased by the Corporation to Strong & Co in 1930, and demolished in the 1970's and is now under what was until about 5 years the East Street shopping centre.
The name ’St Mary’s Brewery does cause confusion, having been used for the Joiners Arms, Hattatt’s brewery, and St Mary’s brewery Love Lane/St Mary’s Road.