Henry Nutley was in trouble in September 1859, having been summoned for wilfully permitting drunkenness. The charge was dismissed with a comment he should be careful in the future. In December he was summoned for keeping premises open after hours, but this was again dismissed.

A newspaper report on 3 August 1867 refers to the Phoenix Tap in King Street behind Henry Nutley’s brewery, run by Henry Mitchell. He was on remand for stealing a quantity of beer from Henry Nutley by pouring beer in to a bucket and taking it outside to the Tap. He was discharged. There is reference in the case to Mr Nutley’s brewer as being Robert Hinves. A year later, in August 1867 a Henry Mitchell was tried for stealing beer from ‘Henry Nutley Orchard Lane.’

In April 1869 Henry Nutley of the Phoenix brewery is supplying families with a pure light and palatable ale at 1s a gallon, together with ‘Nutley’s XX ale in perfection at 1s a gallon’. Also, H Nutley’s XXX ale, fine strong and sparkling at 1s 6d a gal, and H Nutley’s genuine spirits. 

Health and safety was not what it is today and there is a report on 24th April 1875 of a fatal accident at the brewery when Timothy Winship fell 20 ft with a bushel of malt that he was carrying to the loft.

Henry Nutley died at the brewery on 27th July 1875 aged 63. The following year the Hampshire Advertiser of 18th March 1876 advertised; “Orchard Lane Southampton the Phoenix Brewery with licensed houses in Orchard Street and King Street to be sold by order of Trustees of will of Henry Nutley”. This is described as being the valuable freehold property in Orchard Lane and running to King Street with a frontage thereto and known as the Phoenix brewery, with two licensed houses. There was a covered way with glazed roof leading to the brewery, which had an excellent 4 quarter plant (about 576 gallons per brew), 60ft by 18ft with a coopers yard 23ft by 13ft. There was also a spacious cellar, 36ft by 13ft, an over cellar malt store 36ft by 13ft, a floor over the brewery 60ft by 18ft and floor over with 2 coppers.  There was a yard at the back, 33ft long by 8ft. with three stables and chaise house, (a chaise is a horse drawn carriage) and hop loft over, and cart way to King Street. There were two beerhouses, the Phoenix Inn and the Blacksmiths’ Arms, as well as the Phoenix Tap. 

Clearly the property did not sell as same advert appears in in September 1876. What happened as a result of this advert is not clear, although it is possible that George Watson took over at this time.  In 1878 and 1880, George Watson is listed as a publican, at the Phoenix Orchard Lane. in 1884, and again in 1886 he is listed as a brewer of the Phoenix brewery and public house, and also as a wine and spirit merchant. There is also being the landlord of the Phoenix public house, and newspaper references to him being a brewer in 1883 in connection with the letting of the Highfield Hotel. 

I cannot therefore say when George Watson took over, but in July 1883 there are reports of an accident at the brewery involving ‘Jesse Gurd a journeyman brewer at Phoenix brewery’ who was cleaning the Copper when a ladder slipped from beneath him. He fell hitting a beer tap and was scalded. George Watson was the described as being the proprietor of the brewery.

There is a report in newspapers of 11th February 1885 of a Court claim for the return of barrels by George Watson of the Phoenix brewery from C Dyer a retired brewer formerly of Lodge Road Bevois Mount. (see the Bevois Mount brewery).

Newspapers of 16th May 1885 refer to George Watson being summoned by the Excise authorities for having “concealed certain worts and beer to wit 324 gallons of wort and beer” so as to prevent officers of Inland Revenue taking account of it, incurring a penalty of £100. He pleaded guilty but said the actual loss was between £2 and £3. The Revenue said Watson had been ‘of systematic character’ and they concluded this had gone on for some time. The Magistrates decided on a £50 penalty plus costs, or 3 months’ imprisonment. The fine was paid at once!

The last entry in directories for George Watson is 1886 so the dispute with the Revenue may have meant the end of the brewery, as it was taken over by Crowley & Co in 1886. There were brewers in Alton. In 1885, according to Tony Gallagher in his book ‘Southampton’s Inns and Taverns’ they had acquired the Phoenix Inn, the Blacksmith Arms and the Falcon Inn, both in King Street. The brewery closed and later became a storehouse for British American Tobacco, and the buildings were demolished in the 1950s as part of redevelopment of the area.

The end of the brewery did not mean the end for George Watson. In 1889 he purchased the Star Brewery from the executors of Henry Scrase for his brother in law Mr Hussey. George Hussey was the father of Sarah, who was married to George Watson. She sadly died on 11th May 1883 at the Phoenix brewery. That year he also retired from the Southampton and Hampshire Licensed Victuallers Association, of which he had been president. In an address he said he had ceased to have any monetary interest in the trade for some time. As you will see from the Scrase brewery entry, George Watson did have another run in with the Revenue.

George Watson died 4th April 1916 aged ‘about’ 73. 

On 10th June 1922, an advert appears for the sale by auction of the freehold warehouse formerly known as the Phoenix brewery King street with yard stabling and dwellinghouse until recently the ‘King and Queen’, with vacant possession. Also the adjoining premises was 18 Orchard Lane. A private buyer was found and the auction cancelled. 

Dave Marden in his book ‘Before Holyrood’ says that by 1907 No 25 Orchard Lane was the brewery stores for Crowley & Co.

Research in to the link with the Andover Nutleys is planned!