This page lists pubs/beerhouses which either brewed on the premises, or where it looks like they did so. Further research is required. Can you help?
Angel Inn Bitterne, Portsmouth turnpike Road,
There is sparse information, and my reason for including the Angel appears in the Hampshire Advertiser of 25th December 1841. An auction notice appears; “Lot I. All that eligibly situate and valuable road side free public house and land called the Angel lnn at Bitterne, two miles and a half from Southampton, on the Portsmouth Turnpike Road. The House comprises two large cellars, bar, parlour, large size club room, seven sleeping rooms, one tap room, kitchen, scullery, and larder. The Outbuildings consist of brewhouse, store, excellent brick-built stabling, three coach-houses, &c. The whole forming a most compact and substantially brick-built property, having a frontage to the Turnpike Road of about 106 feet (also building land to rear)”
Note the reference to ‘brewhouse’. A Facebook page from the Southampton Sotonians says that the origins go back to before 1828 and that Mary Jewell ran the Angel after her husband’s death, and until 1842. Directories from 1828-41 show Edward Jewell, and Maria Jewell. This fits neatly with the date of the auction notice. Were they also brewers?
In newspapers of 24th January 1857, there is a report that the publican Henry Thorn had died, and his executor Elizabeth Thorn was bankrupt. There was a Henry Thorn at Portswood brewery but dates suggest this was a different person.
The Angel was demolished in in 1972 and today, the Sainsbury’s supermarket in Bitterne Precinct is on the site, but the name is remembered in the nearly ‘Angel Crescent’
Arno Tavern, 21 Orchard Lane (Corner of Challis Court)
This Beerhouse may have brewed its own beer as in the 1863 and 1865 directories, Robert Henbest is listed as a brewer and greengrocer (at 14 Orchard Lane in 1863 and 21 Orchard Lane in 1865). By 1867 he is listed as being at 23 Mount Street. By 1920 this was a Scrase’s house.
BALTIC TAVERN, 20 Chapel Road
I have not found much on this, save for the Hampshire Advertiser of 27th September 1851 stating “To let free beerhouse with small brewery attached doing a good business rent moderate immediate possession if required. Apply George Hoad Baltic Tavern Southampton.
This beerhouse provided lodgings as well as selling beer. I can find no further information in directories, or newspapers.
BAY TREE INN, 109 New Road
This house seems to have been a brewery for many years but information is sparse, and there is a significant gap in dates.
In the 1803 directory there is an entry “Fanner, Edmund Brewer Bay Tree Brewery 16 New Road”. There is then nothing until the 1861 Forbes directory which shows Jacob Dyke at New Road. However, in the Hampshire Advertiser of 1st March 1856 Jacob Dyke is an ‘insolvent debtor’ at the Bay Tree Tavern New Road St Marys, “retailer of beer and brewer”. (note ‘Tavern’, rather than ‘Inn’.) In August 1856 he applied for a new licence for ‘a house in New Road’. In August 1858 he applied for a new public house licence, but this was refused (with the numerous other applications as there were already 140 licensed houses in the town). In September 1859, he made a personal application for a licence, and presented a memorial which alleged that he had always conducted business at the pub properly. That was also refused.
In March 1862 he is described as a brewer and retailer of beer at New Road.
In the 1863 PO directory William Fanner is listed at 16 New Road, and up until 1869 he is variously shown as a brewer and beer retailer, with a residence at Anglesea Road. By 1871 the listing is the Bay Tree Brewery 16 New Road.
In the licensing report of September 1965, Edward Fanner applied for a licence. It was said the present landlord had occupied it for 3 years, and Mr Dyke for 13 years before, “without a complaint being made against it”.
In newspapers of 15th May 1875 there is short notice of sale of the Bay Tree Inn by auction, of a quantity of brewing utensils including a large copper, mash and barm tubs, malt mill, stillions, strainers and several casks.
Edmund Fanner is listed as the landlord in 1875, until 1889. Edward Fanner was convicted of selling watered down Whiskey in January 1883.
It cannot be a coincidence that Edmund Fanner is listed in 1803, and then 60 years later, the same surname emerges at the same address.
THE BLACK HORSE 24 Orchard Lane, a beerhouse.
Tony Gallagher, in his book Southampton’s Inns and Taverns, places the Black Horse at 66 Orchard Lane, with the Diamond Jubilee beerhouse at no. 65. Dave Marden in his book ‘Before Holy Rood’ confirms this. In the Southampton Observer and Hampshire News of 18 September 1869, there is reference to a William Dyett applying for a licence renewal on his house at 66 Orchard Lane.
I say all this because the rest of this section makes reference to various numbers that are neither 65 nor 66 Orchard Lane, so I guess we have the fairly common case of renumbering over the years.
The 1848 Kelly’s Hampshire Directory lists John Martin of Orchard Lane as a beer retailer. By 1849, there is a John Martin, brewer, at 29 Orchard Lane, (Rayner Directory) although he is resident at 24 Orchard Lane (Forbes & Knibb). The 1851 and 1853 directories show J Martin at the Black Horse, as a brewer and innkeeper at 26 Orchard Lane, as he is in 1855 and 1857, but at 24 Orchard Lane. By 1859 and 1861 he is a brewer and spirit merchant in Orchard Lane before being at the George brewery as brewer and innkeeper at 15 Orchard Lane.
The Hampshire Advertiser of 29th August 1857 shows that John Martin applied for a licence for the Black Horse which, with all other new applications, was refused. In 1858, he applied again and the report states he was an old inhabitant and that he brewed his own beer. His house was known as the Black Horse. This application was also refused.
I conclude that John Martin brewed at the Black Horse (wherever it was!) from Circa 1848 until 1859, when he moved to the George Brewery. 1859 is the year that George Degee transferred the licence of the George & Henry to John Martin, and Dave Marden in his book ‘Before Holy Rood’ says that Martin handed keys to the King family around 1860. By 1861 John Martin is a brewer and a wine & spirit merchant, and innkeeper at the George brewery. In this year we also see Elizabeth Martin listed as a ginger beer manufacturer in Orchard Lane. The 1861 Census shows John Martin as a brewer at “George & Henry Inn” Orchard Lane, employing seven men, with wife Elizabeth. He was aged 44 years.
It would seem that John Martin was associated with the Black Horse beerhouse for about 10 years, before moving to George brewery. See the George brewery, and the George and Henry pages.
BRICKLAYERS ARMS, 40 and or 41 Grove Street (Corner with Cumberland St).
Brewing did take place here, at least for a while.
In the 1839 Robson directory we find Daniel Bishop as a retail brewer at Cumberland Place St Mary Street, and by 1843 and 1845 he is listed at 41 Grove Road as a brewer and beer retailer.
In November 1845, there is advertised to be let or sold a dwelling house and compact brewery, spacious cellarage and retail beer shop in Grove Street in the heart of an improving neighbourhood. This included brewing plant and fixtures at valuation, and the premises with the adjoining dwelling then yielding a rental of £37pa. The property was freehold. “Apply Mr D Bishop present tenant, or auctioneer.”
Presumably it did not sell and there were some financial problems as on 6th December 1845 the notice was repeated. Then, in the Hampshire advertiser of 10th January 1846 there appears an auction notice ‘under execution from the sheriff’ on the premises in Grove Street (near the Gas works), household furniture, fittings of a beer shop a capital 5 pull beer engine etc also “a small compact brewery plant comprising 60 gall copper with cock and pipe cooler mash tub, wort tub, working square and a quantity of seasoned beer casks.
The book Southampton’s Lost Streets (St Mary’s and Golden Grove) by Dave Marden shows that No 40 was owned by Edwards Botley brewery in the 1840s, so there are perhaps two scenarios. First, that Edwards brewery owned the freehold and Bishop was their brewer. Alternatively, Bishop had his own brewery, fell in to financial trouble and Edwards brewery acquired the premises.
CANUTE CASTLE HOTEL, 13 Canute Road
Also the Canute Hotel Brewery, Canute Hotel.
This Hotel stood on the corner of Canute Road, and Royal Crescent; In fact, it still does, although it is no longer a pub or hotel, but flats. It was typically just referred to as ‘the Canute’. It was built by Samuel Stevens, a local builder as a hotel for the increasing number of people passing through the nearby docks. He was also the landlord.
The Hampshire Independent of 17th December 1859 runs an advert for the Canute Hotel (note no ‘Castle’), with Samuel Stevens as proprietor. He had added a dining room. He also advertised “Home brewed strong family ale from the Canute Brewery in 6 or 9 gal casks 1/6d per gal. Strong Christmas Stingo, October brewing. Ditto “bright as amber, strong as Brandy and 12 months in the wood”. In the same month, another similar advert appears for beers from the “Canute Brewery”. (It looks like he brewed strong beer, perhaps for sailorson leave?).
There was also an advert immediately below the one mentioned for the Canute Wine and Spirit Vaults, opposite the dock gates, which also advertised ales from the Canute Brewery.
In the Hampshire Advertiser of 4th February 1860 there appears much the same advert for the Canute Wine & Spirit Vaults opposite the dock gates. This was for wines etc. and also “fine strong family ale from the “Canute Brewery in 6 and 9 Gall casks at 1s a gall. Strong Stingo October brewings 1s 6d. bright as Amber, strong as brandy and 12 moths in the wood 1s 8d a gall.”
In January 1863, the licence for the premises was transferred by Mr Stevens to William Towsey. He was already the proprietor of the Bedford Hotel Landport and on 10th January, he announced the premises would be ‘completely refitted’, but there is no reference to brewing. He was made bankrupt in October that same year. In newspapers of December 1863, the Canute Hotel and the Wine Vaults was up for auction. The property was under a lease from Southampton Corporation, with 60 years remaining at a rent of £58.10s pa. By 1865, George Hyles was the landlord.
CARPENTERS ARMS 9 King Street/24 Lime Street (on the corner of Lime street and King Street)
I debated with myself about including this pub, which seems to have brewed and sold beer, but unofficially, and I thought, Why not!!
In the Hampshire Advertiser of 6th April 1878, there is a report on a licensing case involving James Gardener a (former) tenant of the pub, who had been ejected by the owner, Coopers brewery, for breach of contract. (in other newspapers he is referred to as ‘Gardiner’). Mr Phillips, a manager of Coopers applied for a transfer of the licence, for a number of reasons. He said that Gardener had been fined 40s by magistrates for drunkenness and disorderly behaviour. He had also “been dealing with almost every other brewer in the town for beer to sell on these premises which he had admitted, and further than that, he had absolutely admitted he had been brewing himself without a licence. He admitted that to the Excise Officer”, and all this was a transgression of the Agreement with Coopers. The breaches justified forcible re-entry. Gardener had refused to give up the licence. Phillips went to the pub and tasted the beer to see if they were beers from elsewhere. The Excise Officer was with him. He could not prove that Gardener sold the beer that he brewed but from what he saw, and others saw, he was led to believe he was selling it. The police had watched the beer being moved from his house to the pub. Gardener admitted selling beer supplied by others, but the application for the licence was not granted as the points had not been proven by Mr Phillips.
The ‘other’ beer had been supplied by C H Robinson & Co, and on 10th April 1878, a letter to the Hampshire Advertiser appears, from them, saying the report of the case may be prejudicial, and confirming that Gardener ordered a sample of malt and said he had a free house. They sent him three barrels of beer but when Mr Phillips said Gardener was tied to Coopers they cancelled the orders. Had they known they would not have supplied beer.
C H Robinson & Co ran the Lion Brewery, Shirley at that time.
Commercial Inn, now the Humble Plumb, 73 Commercial Street Bitterne
Absolam Bell is listed as a brewer at the Commercial Inn, together with C Langley as a beer retailer in the 1849 Rayner directory. By 1851 ‘Bell Abraham’ is a brewer at 49 Fanshawe Street Newtown, although sometimes he is ‘Absolem’. By 1851, William Haysom is at the Commercial Inn and Brewery Bitterne. There is no relevant reference in 1855.
Newspapers confirm that Absolem Bell, a ‘former brewer Southampton’ died aged 83, on 17th April 1862
The Bitterne Local History society also refers to a brewery here, and says that the pub was built in 1842. Could there be a link with the Bell family of the Itchen Brewery? William Haysom could well belong to the Haysom family who were brewers and landlords.
Corfe Castle, 13 East Street (Corner East Street and York Buildings).
The Lamb Inn, a ‘beerhouse’, is referred to in ‘Southampton’s Inns and Taverns’ by Tony Gallagher as being at 38 East Street, but he says the 1878 Drink Map shows it as 13 Lower East Street so, as we see below, the Corfe Castle became the Lamb.
Francis Langford is listed in the 1843 Fletcher and Forbes Directory as a beer retailer at 5 Pound Tree Lane with a Mrs Lock (the Royal Oak), but by 1845 he is listed as a Brewer at 13 East Street, as he is up until 1851. By 1855 the address is 13 Middle East Street, and he is a beer retailer.
The 1851 Census shows Francis Langford as a brewer (married to Elizabeth, with a daughter, also Elizabeth) aged 51.
The Hampshire Advertiser of 22nd December 1855 reports that Francis Langford committed suicide at the Lamb, which he had kept for many years. He was found suspended by a strap shortly after a petition for bankruptcy had been filed.
‘Southampton’s Inns and Taverns’ by Tony Gallagher states that Francis Langford was the Landlord of the Royal Oak in Pound Tree Road, so it looks like he moved from there, and started brewing at the Corfe Castle Circa 1845.
By 1875, Barlows were tenants, at a rent of £20pa.
See also the White Swan, St Mary Street, which has close links with the Corfe Castle.
COMPTON ARMS, 2 (or 20) Compton Walk.
I repeat an extract from my page on the Anchor & Hope Brewery. in 1855, we find William Prince at the Anchor & Hope, as a ‘fly proprietor and Brewer’. He appears again in 1857, and was still there in 1858, as during transfer sessions in June 1858, he transferred the licence for the Anchor and Hope to James Cave, who, at the same time, transferred his licence at the Compton Arms, Compton Walk, to Thomas Warner Hill.
James Cave is listed in directories as being at 2 Compton Walk from 1843 to 1849 and is then listed as a brewer and innkeeper here in 1859, and 1863. Did he brew for the Compton Arms? or was he simply an innkeeper who brewed for his family at the anchor & Hope? That seemsunlikely, although I cannot find other evidence of brewing here. The 1846 map of Southampton shows the Brewers Arms at what could be No 2 Compton Walk, although Tony Gallagher in his book ‘Southampton’s Inn and Taverns’ places this as number 20. Possibly a classic case of renumbering over time? It does seem that James left here to return to the Anchor and Hope after Henry Cave’s death.
COWHERDS, The Common
Perhaps the most well known pub in the City after the Red Lion and the Duke of Wellington. Built in 1762 as a home for cowherds, it was occupied by Edward Dyett in 1774 who had been appointed as a Cowherd. He was also a brewer, supplementing his income by selling home brew. In those days, it was known as the Southampton Arms as it was the first pub on the way in to town. Locals however wanted to call it ‘the Cowherds House’.
I cannot find much further information but in January 1837 there appears a notice for the letting of the Southampton Arms, being a public house, stables, and premises, situated close to the race course, and within a mile of Southampton. For particulars apply at the Office of Messrs Taylor and Moody East Street, Southampton. They had taken a lease of the premises in 1789 when they were known as the East Street Brewers, or Taylor, Moody and Taylor. Two years later, in newspapers of 16th February 1839, the licensing authorities agreed to the assignment of the lease of the Southampton Arms by the brewery. The lease was for 14 years from 20th May 1831, the assignee (receiving the lease) being Mr J Cooper of Seaford Sussex. He was a founder of Cooper’s Brewery, who in turn took over Taylor & Moody.
Since Taylor & Moody took a lease in 1789, it is likely that brewing on the premises ceased, and beer was supplied by that brewery.
Coopers Brewery ran the pub for some time, and in July 1878, William Cooper was quashing rumours that he was about to transfer the lease of the Cowherds to Rev Canon Wilberforce, or ‘to some other member of the teetotal league’ as Cooper put it. (Note, this is the same year as the Temperance Society ‘Beer Map of Southampton’ publication). There was reference to the land belonging to the ‘ratepayers’, and Coopers has a lease of 7 years from Lady Day 1873, and would be put up for public competition at that time (presumably the end of the lease). There was talk that it should perhaps be pulled down to reinstate the common, as it was always an “excrescence” on the Common (an unattractive or superfluous object or feature).
In early 20th Century it was owned by Aldridge’s. It is of course still trading.
CRICKETERS ARMS, 26 South Front, on the corner with Broad Street.
This establishment may have brewed its own beer. It was later called the Eight Bells. Dave Marden in his book Southampton’s Old Kingsland and St Mary Street says that the pub dated back to the 1850s when George Cox was a beer retailer there. He was also a Coachman who had lived there since the 1830’s.
George Cox is listed as a brewer & beer retailer at South Front in the 1853 Directory, but in 1851, and 1855 he was at 33, then 23 North Front. However, the Hampshire Advertiser of 30th August 1851 carries a report of him applying for a new licence for his premises in south Front. It was said that he “was so well known and so generally respected”, having previously driven a coach between Southampton and Bath. No mention was made of him as brewer.
The pub later became the Eight Bells and was leased to Panton’s Brewery (of Wareham). It passed to Scrase’s Brewery when they took over Pantons.
In 1849, a George Cox is a beer retailer at North Stoneham. Was this the same person?
CROWN & SCEPTRE, 30 Bevois Valley Road.
George Barnes is shown as an innkeeper in 1851 at the Crown Inn Bevois Valley, and as a brewer and beer retailer at the Crown Inn Stoneham Place in the 1853 Post Office Street Directory. From then until 1861 the address is 1 Stoneham Place, but from 1861 to 1865 the entry refers to him as an Innkeeper at the Crown & Sceptre Stoneham Place, Bevois Valley. When looking at street listings in the 1863 PO Directory, ‘Stoneham Place’ has a comment ‘see Bevois Valley Road’, so I am confident that George Barnes was here.
Tony Gallagher in his book ‘Southampton’s Inns and Taverns’ refers to the Crown & Sceptre as being at 30 Bevois Valley Road, but with no entry for the Crown Inn, so it looks as if the name changed from the Crown Inn around 1860.
From newspapers we see that in August 1852, George Barnes applied for a new licence for the Crown & Sceptre “where extensive ranges of buildings have been erected since the last application”. Mr Barnes had kept the Beershop for 8 years. This, with all other new applications, was refused.
In the Hampshire Advertiser of 27 November 1858, there is notice of a sale by auction on behalf of the owner G Barnes of the Crown & Sceptre Bevois Valley. This was for the brewing plant, 2 beer engines, horses, pony, spring carts, livestock, building materials and household furniture. Quite a mixture!
In January 1859, he transferred the licence of the Crown & Sceptre to James Hurdle, who had presumably bought the business, but for some reason, the licence was transferred back to Mr Barnes 3 months later, in April 1859. In July 1865 the licence was transferred to Ann Barnes, so perhaps the buyer defaulted? This may be the same James Hurdle who was Landlord of the Robin Hood, French Street, in the late 1840s.
DOLPHIN HOTEL, 34-35 High Street.
A famous old hotel in the High Street, which is no longer trading and instead is student accommodation.
The Landlord at the Dolphin was Robert Warder Guy, who is listed in the 1836, and 1839, directories, although not as a brewer. From 1839 Mrs Guy is listed as landlord.
In September 1854, the Licence for The Dolphin was transferred to Miss C Guy.
The only evidence of a brewery here appears in the Hampshire Advertiser of 25th November 1854. An auction sale was advertised on behalf of the Trustees under the will of the late Mr. Robert Warder Guy, whose Widow was lately deceased. The sale was of those extensive and valuable freehold premises known as the Dolphin Hotel, followed by a description of rooms etc. The hotel also contained “a small compact brewery, fitted up with the usual requisites. The property has an ample supply of excellent water”. The sale notice said that the reputation of the late proprietor, Mr. Guy, and thereafter the deceased Widow, for the superior conduct of the business, is too extensively known to need any comment.