HORSESHOE INN (BREWERY)

Horseshoe Inn (later Tavern) No 7, later 13 Canal Walk.

Brewing started           Possibly Circa 1851

Brewing ceased          Circa 1865

I said on the Hughes & Co page that there may be a connection between these two breweries. This property was described as a ‘Beer Shop’ in a Court report of January 1846.

Directories from 1846 to 1849 refer to C Warren as being a beer shop keeper, and ale merchant at 7 Canal Walk. By 1851 he is referred to also as a brewer at No 7 Upper Canal Walk. In August 1851 at the Annual Licensing meeting, application for a Licence was made by “Charles Warren, brewer in the Ditches”. In September 1854, at another Licencing Session, Charles Warren of Canal Walk applied for a licence, and it was said that he had the freehold of the property and “had a brewery attached”. He had kept it respectable for 10 Years.

The same, or similar, entries appear in directories until 1855. Charles Warren dies on 26th March 1856. Six months later, in the Hampshire Advertiser of 20th September 1856 we see a notice for a ‘Peremptory sale under a bill of sale from the Sherriff (of Southampton)’. This was an auction sale on the premises known as the Horse Shoe Brewery and Spirit Vaults, Upper Canal Walk, of the stock in trade household furniture, a splendid beer engine, bar fittings and other effects, and “comprising about 3000 gallons of fine old beer in excellent condition, 120 gallons of spirits and cordials, several prime vats varying from 6 to 23 barrels each, a number of iron bound casks and various brewing utensils…” Viewing on the day. 

By 28th March 1857 there appears an advert for the letting of the free public house (not a Beer Shop now!) in Canal Walk called the Horseshoe Brewery, apply Mr Butler, who I assume was the agent. A few weeks later, in the Hampshire Advertiser of 9th May 1857, there is a further notice of an auction sale of the freehold property called “the Horseshoe Brewery” with licensed spirit store and excellent cellarage having a plate glass front and bar. This included the brewing plant of the above brewery, a copper, mash tun, two coolers, underback, malt crusher, working squares, hogsheads, 18 gallon casks, etc. The advert was repeated in July 1857. There was also a freehold shop and dwellinghouse.

As we saw earlier, Charles Warren owned the freehold of the premises, which was for sale shortly after his death. A tenant may have been found as a result of the letting advert in 1857, and there was a later attempt to sell the whole, subject to the tenancy/lease. 

There are gaps to fill.  In April 1858, the Licence was transferred from Henry Edward Fennell to Henry Targett. Henry Fennell was a brewer at the Wellington Brewery in Shirley around 1856-1858 so perhaps we can conclude he took over brewing here once his partnership with Chantrell in Shirley ended (See the Wellington brewery page). He may not have been there long (was he a ‘caretaker’ after Charles Warren died in 1856?)  as in 1858 he transferred the Licence to Henry Targett (who was previously at the Caledonian Hotel Bridge Street). There were then other short periods of occupation and in 1859, there was a Licence transfer from Joseph William Bailey to John Gamling. In 1860 the Licence was transferred to Elisha Bennett. I can find no further details of any of these, save for directories confirming Joseph Bailey was innkeeper here in 1859.

In February 1862 there appeared an advert for sale of a genuine stock of spirits, Upper Canal Walk Horse Shoe brewery by auction at the brewery. About 60 gallons of best Old Jamaica Rum, and 50 gallons of best gin. This was ‘In consequence of the present landlord leaving Southampton’. I note there is no reference to beer! However, the auction is at the “brewery” so there must have still been brewing on site.

We then jump to the 1863 PO directory which lists Simon Smith as a Brewer and Innkeeper at the Horseshoe Brewery Upper Canal Walk. This is ‘one off’ however as he does not appear in directories or newspapers (that I have seen) before or after.

In August 1866, there is an auction sale of two freehold properties. Lot 1 was the Horse Shoe at 13 Canal Walk in the occupation of Mr Samways at a rent of £50pa. The building at the rear “was formerly used as a brew house and may with little expense be again converted to the same purpose”. Lot 2 was at 15 Canal Walk, being a workshop. This looks similar to the 1857 details, ie two freeholds for sale.

We can probably conclude that brewing ended in or around 1866. It may have been taken by a larger brewer for use just as ‘pub’, as in May 1884, there is another advert for sale of the Horseshoe Southampton, the tenant leaving to take a house with the same brewer. Apply to H Whitlock Horse Shoe Canal Walk.