HUGHES & CO
Union Terrace, later, Canal Walk
I have difficulty placing this business, but refer to three possibilities later.
We start with a ‘Notice’ in the newspapers of 24th July 1847; “That the Partnership between the undersigned John Shepard, George Brown, and William David Hughes, in the businesses or trades of ale and porter brewers, in Canal Walk, at the Town and County of Southampton, under the Firm of " Hughes and Co." was on the 5th day of June last dissolved by mutual consent, (so far only as regards the interest of the said George Brown), and in future the business will be carried on by the said John Shepard and William David Hughes, under the Firm of " Hughes and Co." All debts due to the late firm will be received by, and all accounts outstanding due from the said late firm, will be discharged by the said John Shepard and William David Hughes”.
Some 4 months later in newspaper of 20th November 1847, there was a further dissolution of partnership as from 17th November 1847 by John Shepard on behalf of himself and William David Hughes his co-partner …” with whom I have been carrying on, in co-partnership, at Southampton, the business of a brewer”. The notice stated that on 13th November the said co-partnership was dissolved, and from that date the business will be carried or by him, John Shepard alone.
In the 1847 PO Street Directory William Hughes is a brewer of Union Terrace, (later to become Nos 7 to 15 Canal Walk). By the 1848 Kelly Hampshire Directory he is a brewer & beer retailer. (Since he retired from the partnership in November 1847, perhaps it was too late to change the 1848 directory entry?). In 1849 he remains listed generally under ‘ale and porter merchants and brewers at Canal Walk.
The Horseshoe (see the Horseshoe Inn page) was at No 13 Canal Walk, previously Union Terrace, so the first possibility is that there was a connection with Hughes & Co.
Confusingly there is also a William Hughes at Church Road Shirley in 1847, so is there also a connection with the Black Horse Shirley? Also, in newspapers papers of March and April 1849 there is an
advert for the auction of the Shirley Mills brewery with details …” on application to Mr. Hughes, on the premises”. In 1849 and 1851, there is a Hughes and Tillot, Edge Tool makers listed at Shirley Mills. Given the Shirley connection, was Hughes a ‘brewer for hire’, filling in where required at Black Horse and Shirley Mills? Did William Hughes retire from Hughes & Co in November 1847 and move to Shirley Mills in 1849, either as a brewer or in some other capacity?
In February 1848 there is a notice of a sale which was “of interest to butchers and others” of a good business in the above line to be disposed of, situate in Canal Walk, Southampton (lately kept by Mr. George Brown, deceased). The Stock-in-Trade and fixtures will be sold at a moderate price. For particulars, &c apply on the premises.”
George Brown and John Shepard do not appear in the directories as brewers, but George Brown was a grocer in the 1845 directory at 25 Canal Walk, so the second possibility is that there was a general retail grocery business with a small brewery attached at no 25.
Union Terrace was in Canal Walk. In fact, as will be seen from the street plan below from 1870, it was almost opposite Slaters Brewery, but I do not think there was a connection with Slaters.
The third possibility is that there is a connection with the Canal Walk Brewery, although that started a few years later. (see Canal Walk brewery page). However, it is possible that Mr Storry took this business and renamed it the Canal Walk Brewery.
Is it possible that there were four breweries within a short distance in Canal Walk; Slaters (Golden Lion), Hughes & Co, Canal Walk Brewery, and the Horseshoe Inn. Union Terrace is at the top of the attached extract of the 1870 town map.