This page lists breweries that I have seen mentioned, but about which I can find no further information
GRAY, WEBSTER AND CAIN
I have no details on this brewery, and indeed, do not know if it was even in Southampton. All I have is a segment of information from the Southern Evening Echo of November 2005 which says “The Cooper family were brewers in Southampton as far back as 1843, operating from small premises at East Street and Hanover Buildings. In 1867 the local archives mention the Imperial Brewery of Gray, Webster and Cain. This was taken over by Coopers in the early 1890s”.
Except, it was not! The Imperial Hotel Brewery was taken over by Vincent & Elliott, but to be fair, they were taken over by Coopers.
I can find nothing in Directories. In 1871, there is a Thomas Gray, beer retailer at 40 Lower Canal Walk, which is the Bowling Green Tavern, shown as a beer house on the 1878 Drink map.
JOHN STUART & Co 3 High Street
All I found was a report in newspapers of 7th April 1888. This stated that a report of 1811 in the directory for the town of Southampton mentions John Stuart & Co Brewers, Rectifiers and Wine Merchants at 3 High Street.
Hunt & Co were at 3 High Street at this time and my page on that brewery says; “The 1811 PO directory again shows John Hunt John & Co, brewers rectifiers & wine merchants at 3 High Street, as well as James Hunt as a brewer at York Buildings”.
There does look to be a connection and perhaps Hunt’s took them over.
MARLBOROUGH BREWERY SHIRLEY
The Hampshire Advertiser of 8th December 1855 carries an announcement to brewers builders and others about the Marlborough Brewery in Shirley. This was to be sold at auction by the sellers, Messrs Reed who were relinquishing the business, and were auctioning, on 10th December; “the remaining portion” of stock and implements in trade, including “several first class vats, casks of various sizes, old lead and copper pipe, an underback, a large brewing Copper, an iron tank, beer engine, eight-day dial, several useful horses and two capital ponies.
In August 1854, there is reference to the licensing of a pub in Freemantle Park owned by Captain Reid of Marlborough Brewery, occupied by Mr Janes. I can find no ‘Janes’ in 51 or 53 directories. There is a William James of Shirley, a beer retailer, but no other details. There is no Reid or Reed in 54/55. There was a Marlborough brewery in Marlborough!
MILLBROOK BREWERY 76 Millbrook Road
Brewing started 1900/1901, and ceased Circa 1906.
The earliest reference is in the directory of 1900 referring to Clayton S & Sons Ginger Beer manufacturer, Liverpool Street Western Shore (not Weston shore)
In 1901 and 1902 the entry is ‘Clayton John Ltd Millbrook Brewer Millbrook Road Freemantle’. In 1903 this is repeated with the addition of ‘Clayton Bottling Co (Thomas Perkins) Castle Street, Bevois Town’. This entry is the same in 1904, but by 1905 he is not a brewer but remains as bottler. In 1906, we are back to George Clayton, brewer at Millbrook Road. Finally, in the 1909/10 directory the reference is to ‘Clayton Bottling Co Ltd (The) Mineral Water manufacturers 74 & 76 Millbrook Road Freemantle’.
The Southern Echo of Tuesday 10th September 1901 contains an advert, wanting a handy man for brewery work; “a Navy pensioner preferred”, application to John Clayton Limited 76 Millbrook Road. Also in 1901, an advert appears for horses to be sold, ‘Brewery’ 76 Millbrook Road.
In the Southern Echo of 18th November 1904 there is an auction notice for the valuable freehold premises known as Claytons brewery Millbrook Road, with fixtures and plant at valuation if required.
It looks like the premises were not sold, or if they were, they continued as a brewery. In various newspapers of 17th February 1906, reference is made to a Court case where persons were charged with stealing old metal, value £3, belonging to George Clayton from brewery premises in Millbrook Road. One of the accused was in the employ of Messrs Clayton’s brewery as a clerk.
TRINITY BREWERY
In newspapers of December 1907, there appears an advert announcing; “to introduce our non-intoxicating wines cordials and beers we are reducing our prices. British wines, Ginger orange, port sherry and raisin 3s per half dozen, reputed pints, 3d returned on empties. Ginger beer, Ginger stout, hop ale, Sarsaparilla, Oatmeal Stout etc at 8d per gallon, 2,5d a quart. Cordials in peppermint cherry ginger brandy, lemon, clove and raspberry. The People’s brewers, Trinity Brewery 2 Back of East Park Terrace Southampton.
I have searched newspapers and directories for further information but so far without any success.
WOODMILL BREWERY
Was there once a brewery at Woodmill? It looks as if there was.
In newspapers of 14th October 1882 there is an advert for sale by auction of property, 2 1/2 miles from Southampton, 2 ½ miles from Bishopstoke and about 1 mile from St Denys Station. Instructions were from J Read to sell by auction on 26th October a small freehold property known as the Woodmill Brewery. This was a brick built house with wine and beer cellars. “The outbuildings consist of a small timber and slate brewhouse fitted with a 120-gallon copper, stable, cart shed piggeries and fowl house with good kitchen garden and small paddock containing altogether about ½ an acre. There was an off licence for the sale of beer attached to the premises”
On 24th February 1883 there was a near identical advert, but the sale was by the Mortgagee, so presumably the owner failed to sell in October.
Could there be a connection with the ‘Messrs Reed’ mentioned under the Marlborough brewery, but 40 years later?