PORTSWOOD BREWERY 

Gordon Arms 113 Portswood Road, corner with Gordon Avenue

AKA the Bevois Valley Brewery, Bevois Hill Brewery, Simmonds Brewery.

Brewing started                       1863

Brewing ceased                      Probably 1881 

According to Tony Gallagher’s book ‘Southampton Inns and Taverns’, this property is shown on the 1878 Drink Map as a beer house. In 1884 when W Lawrence was the landlord, it was known as the Portswood Brewery. The name changed to the Gordon Arms about 1886.

I have seen suggestions that the business was started by Henry Thorn in 1878, but he in fact was involved 2 years earlier.  However, I believe this brewery had a history going back a further 13 years or so. 

The brewery at what became the Gordon Arms on the corner of Portswood Road and Gordon Avenue was started by George Simmonds.  He appears in the 1863 Post Office directory as a brewer at Bevois Hill. In 1865 he is a brewer, and in 1867, 1871, and 1876 he is listed as being at Portswood Road, Bevois Hill. In 1878 and 1880 he is still a brewer, but is listed at 1 Broughton Cottage Bevois Hill. It is possible that he moved here originally from the Portsmouth Arms beerhouse in Chapel Road. 

In newspapers of 28th October 1866, George Simmonds is described as a brewer at Bevois Hill brewery Portswood Road. This detail appears in a death notice showing he had sadly lost his wife Ellen and 1 month old son John, one of twins on 28 October.

In January 1871 there is a newspaper report of a fire at the back of the premises known as Simmonds Brewery in Portswood Road. It was discovered by Mr. Welstead, who, with the help of the occupier, succeeded in extinguishing the flames with a few buckets of water. These premises had also been the scene of another fire as recently as the previous Friday. Later, there appears a discussion at a Council meeting about the £5,1s 8d costs of attending the fire. Since the insurers had paid, questions were raised as to why the borough should be put to that expense. It was found the insurers had in fact paid the finance board.

In March that year there is a report of an assault on George Simmonds, a brewer and beershop keeper of Portswood Road.

It seems that George remarried but on the 5th December 1873, it was announced that Emma Simmonds, wife of George Simmonds, died aged 36 at the Portswood brewery.

Henry Thorn then becomes involved in 1876.  A Henry Thorn was at the Stag, the Strand in 1871. He was found guilty of keeping a disorderly house and fined 20s in November that year. The Licence was transferred in February 1872, and I assume this was the same person?

In the Hampshire Independent of 11th March 1876 (and other dates) a business announcement appears; “Portswood Brewery, Southampton. H Thorn, proprietor late Simmonds, begs respectfully to Inform the inhabitants of Southampton and its, surrounding neighbourhood. that he has taken the above brewery, where he trusts by strict attention, combined with his personal superintendence, to merit a continuance of public support.   Family and country orders punctually attended to.”

Newspapers of 29th March 1876 record a licence transfer re the “Simmonds Brewery from George Simmonds to Henry Thorn”. The Borough Police Court referred to the Licence of the Portswood brewery. However, I can find no reference to him in directories of this time.

In September 1877 there is reference to the “Old Portswood Brewery” and in August 1878, Henry Thorn applies for a licence to sell spirituous liquors by retail from the premises, which were then a beerhouse. In the 1878 directory, Henry Thorn is at the Portswood Brewery.

However, George Simmonds is still listed as a brewer in directories of 1876, 1878, and 1880. H Thorn appears in the 1880 Directory as an engineer, Portswood Road Bevois Hill. There is also an entry for him at the Portswood Brewery Portswood Road. He may have taken over the retail side of the business, but retained George Simmonds as his brewer? In 1880/1, there is mention of Henry Thorn at 19 Western Terrace, Portswood Brewery, brewer.

Henry Thorn sadly passes on 12th March 1881and a month later, at the Transfer Sessions, we see; “Simmonds Inn Portswood Road late Henry Thorne deceased special licence granted to his widow Fanny Thorn”.

On 21 May 1881 the premises were offered for letting by Fanny Thorne. The Portswood Brewery (late Simmonds), was described as being “the compact little brewery with immediate possession including the plant.” It seems that no one took the offer as in the Hampshire Independent of 11th June 1881 there is an auction notice for the Portswood Brewery near Southampton. This was for the plant and rolling stock, a nearly new I 1/2 horse power vertical engine, by E. S Hendley, Bourbon, Dorset; a ditto malt mill, by Wood and Co, an excellent power malt mill, a 216-gallon copper new in 1878 with the furnace and fitting, wort pump, all the lead pipe fittings. a good mash tub, underback, hop back with copper bottom, casks and vats in various sizes from 4 1/2 gallons to 15 barrels; beer stillions, a quantity of hops, a two-knife chaff cutter by Benthall, slate cistern and tanks, all the gas and fittings, a stout 4 years old cob, quiet to ride and drive, light and heavy spring carts, several sets of harnesses large garden engine on wheels and various other effects. For sale by the Executrix of the late Mr. Henry Thorn, by auction.

By December there is another advert for the letting of the well-known ale house with dwelling outhouse and stables yard and market garden known as the Portswood Brewery for many years in the occupation the late Mr Thorn.

In June 1885 there is a fire at Portswood Brewery beerhouse, occupied by George Wassell. We are told the fire started “in the old brewery which is now used as a skittle alley”. The property must have belonged to Fanny Thorn and was leased to Panton & Co, brewers of Wareham.

On 26th September 1891, 6 years later, an advert appears for an auction on behalf of the estate of the late Henry Thorn for the freehold of an “old established and well known corner beerhouse at Bevois Hill Portswood for many years called ‘Simmonds or the Portswood brewery “, together with 2 cottages adjoining and 4 in Gordon Avenue at the rear. It was later reported that the whole Lot sold for £2,200 being ‘a considerable increase on the price paid by the late owner 15 or 20 years ago’.

The beerhouse then changed its name and in a licensing application of September 1893, Mr. James Scammell applied for full license for the brewery, Portswood Road. It was said the house was at one time known “Simmonds's,” and very recently the Gordon Arms Hotel. It was owned then by Scrase’s brewery (who had taken over Panton’s by that time).