HOUNDWELL BREWERY
Vincent’s Walk, but previously 99/100 High Street
Also Drew & Son
Brewing Started Circa 1811
Brewing ceased Circa 1850
To my knowledge, this was the only brewery in town ‘by appointment’ and allowed to use the name ‘Royal’ in its title, ie the Royal Houndwell Brewery.
To gain more details on the family background to this brewery I recommend the online Sotonopedia, together with the Hampshire Advertiser of 25th June 1892, which reports on the life, and death, of John Watkin Drew, a son of the founder John Drew. I therefore keep it brief here by saying that John Drew was born at Portsea in December 1768, and in 1796 he moved to Southampton to assist Robert Heather in his spirit business. John claimed descent via his family through the Comptes de Dreux, of Dreux, in Brittany, from Hugh Capet, King of France in 987. The name ‘Dreux’ became Anglicised to Drew, and his first name ‘Jean’ became John. John had two sons, John Watkins and William, and one daughter, Mary. The sons were rope makers and the daughter married the brewer John Sanders, son of John Sanders senior, who kept the Blue Boar in East Street. Her husband eventually succeeded to his father’s business, which he moved to new premises at the rear of the Blue Boar. This became the Sander's brewery, (See the Sanders brewery page).
In 1800 John Drew entered into partnership with Robert Heather and Philip Le Feuvre as brewers and spirit merchants, purchasing the premises known as Monkton Court. Robert Heather had a distillery in French Street, and may have been John’s brother in law. The partnership was dissolved in 1804, and the premises were sold to Mr. William Lomer, a grocer. In 1803, Robert Heather is listed as a brewer & distiller at Monckton’s Court. After this, John Drew traded separately and he bought the Fish and Kettle in French Street, as well as the premises at 100 High Street, where he built a malt-house and brewery in 1807. The 1811 Holden Directory lists John Drew at High Street. In 1816 he bought 99 High Street and buildings in Broad Lane which became his home. The Pigot’s Hampshire Directory of 1823/4, shows John Drew was at 100 and 99 High Street, and he is listed as a brewer.
At some point around 1831 John was joined by his son John Watkin Drew, and in September 1831 there appears an advert for the letting of the Wheatsheaf Inn at Hythe, apply Drew & Sons Southampton. By the 1834 Fletcher Directory the listing is ‘Drew & Son brewer & spirit merchant High Street’, with numbering that varies between 8, and 99 High Street up to 1839. Note the reference to ‘Sons’ in 1831. I think John Watkin Drew and Martin Drew were in business, possibly with their father. For reasons stated later, I believe the business moved to Vincent’s Walk around 1835.
In newspapers of 17th January 1837 there is an advert for the ‘disposal’ of the wine, spirit and grocery business (established more than 20 years ago) of Drew & Sons Southampton. The brewing business presumably continued, as in November 1838, they advertised that they could supply genuine ale and strong beer from their premises, and pledged to use malt and hops only of the best quality.
The 1839 Fletcher directory also shows ‘Drew Marten & Co Houndwell Brewery, Vincent’s Walk’, confirming a change of address from High Street. This was perhaps because they could tap in to the supply of water known as the Houndwell Spring. There is however still a listing of Drew & Sons brewer and spirit merchants at 99 High Street so perhaps the brewery and retail were separated? Note the spelling of ‘Marten’ earlier. I believe however that this refers to John’s son Martin Drew. To confuse matters further, a John Cox is a Brewer in Vincent’s Walk in the same directory who may have been the ‘Cox’ in ‘Quick & Cox, brewers at the wheatsheaf (see the Quick & Norman page).
Henry Cunliffe was a partner in the business, and on 5th October 1839, there is a notice in newspapers of the dissolution of the partnership between M Drew and H Cunliffe, common brewers. That is presumably Martin Drew, so we could assume that Martin and Henry ran the business from Circa 1837 to October 1839. Henry continued the brewing business on his own, and he was clearly an accomplished brewer as in the Hampshire Independent of 8th June 1839, there is reference to the forthcoming opening of the London Southampton Railway, and a dinner he was arranging for the directors of the company. Henry Cunliffe was said to be “widely known as the best brewer in Hampshire”, although another thought this assertion was “mere tapster’s froth”.
Irrespective of how good he was, he did have ‘Royal’ endorsement as shown in an ‘announcement’ in the Hampshire Independent of 4th April 1840, headed “The Royal Houndwell Brewery, Houndwell, Southampton.” The notice continued “Henry Cunliffe purveyor, by special appointment, of ale and beer to her Majesty the Queen, respectfully announces to his friends and the public, that the original high character obtained by its founder for this well known brewery is fully maintained and that pure malt and hops alone, in ample quantity, and of the first rate quality form the staple of the article sold. It may be had by families in six, nine, elghteen, and all other sized casks, direct from the brewery, and under his own personal superintendence, and it may be had in retail at the Royal Hotel Tap”.
This Tap was in Vincent’s Walk and according to Tony Gallagher in his book ‘Southampton’s Inns and Taverns’ was the tap for the Royal Hotel, at 66 Above Bar (and presumably backing on to the brewery). He also puts the Free Traders Arms at 7 Vincent’s Walk so perhaps this was the brewery tap for Houndwell brewery.
The notice also went on to announce; “Henry Cunliffe begs to call the attention of the gentlemen and tradesmen of the town” that he was the owner of the Antelope Hotel and Southampton Cricket Ground which sold his beers. The wines and liquors were said to be of the most generous quality, and the beer was drawn just as served from the Houndwell Brewery. Mr Diaper was the landlord of the Antelope Hotel and Henry Cunliffe was “purveyor of ale and beer to the Queen at the brewery Houndwell”.
Despite this high reputation, only three months later the Hampshire Independent of 18th July 1840 carries notice of an auction sale of the Houndwell brewery to be held on 30th July. Part was to be sold under a bill of sale, and part under Sherriff execution. It was said that the brewery had been erected within the last 5 years (ie 1835 ish) and comprised a 16 Barrel dome copper, 6 Quarter mash tub, (approx. 864 gallons per brew), underback, large coolers and tun, vats hot and cold liquor pumps, and 10-barrel cistern hop strainers. Also a bay mare 6 years old, trucks, together with the fittings of the Royal Hotel Tap, including spittoons. There was “also about 1000 gallons of very prime sound strong beer which will be offered in suitable lots”
There was also a separate sale by the Mortgagee in possession (ie the lender had foreclosed on the loan and probably changed the locks). This was for the sale the lease of the ‘compact and desirable brewery premises situate immediately in the rear of the Above Bar Street,’ together also with the lease of the Royal Hotel Tap which adjoined the brewery, and “which is now doing a most excellent trade, and capable of great increase”. The whole was held on lease, of which 13 years were unexpired, at a low rent, and presented a favourable opportunity to any person wishing to embark in a well established brewery business, and with immediate possession.
However, there is another advert for sale by action on 4th August 1840, under execution from the Sherriff comprising about 3000 galls of beer and items from the brewery and the Tap. Beer could be tasted on the day of sale. However, there was also notice that “The sale of the brewery premises and plant will not take place”.
So what do we conclude. The business clearly operated from the premises under a lease, which was either not sold, or a buyer was found prior to auction. The contents and stock were also not sold so were advertised again (with free tastings as an incentive!)
John Drew died on 11 August 1841 and his Son John Watkin Drew, who had joined his father in partnership before he died, inherited the business. He also inherited a number of public houses/beer houses namely the Fish and Kettle, and Castle Inn, both in Southampton, the Wheatsheaf in Hythe, the Waterloo Inn, Winchester, the Bricklayers Arms, Alresford, the Three Tuns in Newport, Isle of Wight, the London Tavern Poole, the Red Lion and Kings Head in Romsey and the Vine Inn at Bishops Waltham.
In April 1841 there appeared notices to say that “Alfred Marcer Withers, having succeeded to the above establishment” could supply strong ale and table beer. This would therefore, be the year that John Watkin Drew retired, but other sources say that he retired from the brewing business in 1842 and went into property development. Either way, Alfred Withers appears at the Houndwell Brewery in Vincent’s Walk as a brewer in directories from 1842 until 1847.
However, I must now take you on an interesting diversion. In the Hampshire Independent of 2nd July 1842, we see an auction notice for the disposal of brewery plant, stock and utensils to be sold at the brewery Broad Lane, by order of J W Drew “who is declining the brewery business”. I have assumed this is the same ‘J W Drew’ who was here at Houndwell. If so, this terminology suggests it was his business, and he wanted to exit brewing, so it is very possible that J W Drew owned this other brewery, which was larger than Houndwell (as shown later). The sale was of plant only, not the premises and included a dome copper, which could contain 23 Barrels, an eight Quarter mash tun (allowing a brew of about 912 gallons, so a large concern. The Houndwell Brewery capacity when auctioned in 1840 was 6 Quarters), a nearly new 15 barrel underback, two 18 and one 20 barrel working squares, pumps and a malt mill and quantity of lead piping. There was also 50 Quarters of prime malt, a quantity of sound store beer and large quantities of Barrels, kilderkins and hogsheads,
as well as two very powerful dray horses, a six-barrel dray and numerous other effects.
J W Drew retired from Houndwell in April 1841 and (if I am correct in my assumptions) sold in Broad Street 15 months later, so dates for a gradual retirement do fit. The question now is where was this other brewery? Broad Street was a very short road. It is logical to conclude that this brewery plant for sale was attached to the Fawn brewery which is clearly shown on the 1846 town map. However, by the time of the 1870 map, there is nothing specific shown in that area which looks to be an open area, perhaps a yard and access. It certainly looks as if the 1846 brewery has been demolished, leaving the ‘Malt House’. The Fawn Brewery page shows these two plans.
The freehold of the Fawn brewery was probably owned by Richard Lock Senior, so I concluded that Drew brewed at the Fawn Tavern brewery, perhaps for the Fawn, then he retired, sold his plant and vacated the site.
Back to Houndwell. James Waterhouse was a brewer at 5 Vincent’s Walk and takes over for a short time, appearing in directories of 1848 but by 1849 Alfred Withers is again shown at the Houndwell Brewery. James Waterhouse died aged 50 on 14th October 1848, and shortly afterwards an advert appears for the letting of the Houndwell brewery and adjoining Tap, “Late in the occupation of Mr James Waterhouse dec’d, a 6 quarter plant”. His obituary said that he was well known as a coach proprietor, and after retirement he became a brewer.
I do wonder if the ‘Withers’ referred to is the brewer from ‘Withers & Foster brewers in Eling Totton who were also trading in 1849, and that he was a care taker brewer. He does not appear in later directories, but in the Hampshire Advertiser of 14th July 1849, there appears a notice that Edwin Wickham, a porter and ale brewer, had taken the above premises and completed extensive alterations. He was then enabled to offer to the trade stout porter and ales at the following reduced prices. Best brown stout at 43 shillings for 36 gallons, porter 33s, XXXS 48s, XX ditto 33s. Discount for cash was £5 percent.
Wickham may have been another caretaker manager/brewer as on January 3rd, 1850, there was listed an auction sale (unless in the meantime disposed of by valuation), of the Royal Hotel Tap and the entire brewing plant, consisting of an excellent 18 1/2 barrel copper with dome, furnace, brickwork, and chimney shaft, 6 quarter mash tub (a brew of about 864 gallons a time) barrels, vats, hogshead, and small casks, coolers, fermenting tuns, hot and cold liquor pumps, underback, stillions, copper pump, malt crusher, screen and bin, cisterns lined with lead, saccharometer, several hundred feet of lead, copper and tin pipe, stop and bib cocks sacks, tackle and fall, a horse and two hand trucks, and numerous articles necessary for carrying on a brewery. About 3.000 gallons of double and single stout, XXX, and table ales. Also to be sold was the household furniture, and trade fittings of the Royal Hotel Tap, comprising bedsteads. beds, mattresses. and bedding etc. On 21st January 1850, another auction notice appears, from the same auctioneers “under an execution from the Sheriff” “about 2500 gallons of beer and porter in suitable lots”
The following year, in November 1850 there appears an advert for “ale now brewed at the Houndwell Brewery especially for private families and sold in casks”. The business therefore carried on but by whom? All I can find is in the 1878 Cox directory which refers to Smith Bond & Co,10 ½ Vincent’s Walk brewers & maltsters.
Following his retirement, I believe that John Watkins Drew took on another project, namely the original building and development of the St Mary’s brewery, St Mary’s Road (See the St Mary’s brewery page). This complex comprised a beerhouse and brewery run by William and Elizabeth Young, and later their son. This connection arises from detail in an 1876 auction notice for the sale of the St. Mary’s brewery which mentions that the brewery (and other property) was held for an unexpired term of about 974 years, under John Watkins Drew, Esq. The beer and spirit house, brewery, and premises, were held by Mr. William Young the present occupier, for an unexpired term of about 20 years, at £38 per annum.
John Watkins Drew died at his residence in Sussex-place, at half-past two on Thursday 25th June 1892, in his 98th year. As I said earlier, you can read his Obituary in the Hampshire Advertiser of 37th June 1892.