Bedfordshire's Breweries - Newland and Nash Brewery Part 1

Newland and Nash is a story of several breweries coming together. The first is a brewery owned by Peregrine Nash brewing at St. Mary’s and later Lurke Street. His brewing legacy starts on the 6th and 7th May 1783 when he bought the Brewery site described as a 'Mansion house, with Malthouse and Kiln' in St. Mary's Bedford from Thomas Meacher of Barley End, Ivinghoe, Bucks. Meacher, acting as an agent for Peregrine, had bought the property from the descendants of Richard Bell in March. Richard's father, Robert Bell, held the property since 1697, certainly Malting and probably brewing had taken place on the site for many years before Nash took it on. 

Newland and Nash Ltd, Bedford, Green Glass Beer Bottle, BEDFM 2006.359

By 1819, Nash had renovated the brewery and converted the south of the Brewery from a bakehouse into the Windmill Public House. Peregrine Nash increased his public houses steadily by 2 in the 1780s, 5 in the 1790s, 4 in the 1800s and the site of the Peacock, St. Peter's Bedford (built by 1820). Of these 12 public houses, 7 were in Bedford itself and the rest in villages round Bedford, such as Pavenham, Oakley and Elstow, with Wilden and Marston Moretaine being the furthest away from the Brewery. Around 1810, Peregrine's only surviving son, George Peregrine, became a partner and from then on it is clear that George took over almost exclusive control of the Brewery. Almost at once, the Brewery acquired possibly the second largest Inn in Bedford: The Kings Arms on St. Mary Street, Bedford. They also purchased The Ship Inn on St. Cuthberts Street. Throughout the early 1800s, George continued to buy public houses around Bedford and the surrounding area. 

In 1842, George Peregrine I transferred some of his properties to his eldest son, George Peregrine Nash II, making him partner in the Brewery. However, by July 1843 George Peregrine II was living in London having moved there probably due to ill health, he died on 14th June, 1844. It appears that by 1849 although his father George Peregrine Nash was nominally in charge of the brewery it was William Joseph Nash, his younger son, who actually ran it. 

Nash and Son Bedford, Large Stoneware Beer Flagon, BEDFM 2008.42.337, Chrystal Collection

William Nash saw early on the commercial prospects of expanding in the town of Bedford, buying many more sites, including that of the future Midland Hotel which benefitted from the station being completed in January 1859. In 1867 crisis struck. The bank, Barnard & Wing insisted on security for an overdraft in 1867, which resulted in William taking on a further loan at 3% interest. It was this loan that probably saved him from Bankruptcy. He seemed to recover surprisingly quickly, as in 1869 he purchased the Fox & Hounds public house in Kempston and on 29th April 1870, he paid back his creditors. 

W P Newland, Stoneware Beer Flagon, BEDFM 2008.42.176, Chrystal Collection

William was doing so well again by 1874, that he replaced St. Mary's Brewery with a much larger steam brewery at Lurke Street, Bedford in December 1875. By the 7th October 1876, the valuation of the brewery steadily declined and was reduced to zero. William died in 1884 aged 69. His widow, Susan, carried on the Brewery for the benefit of herself and her 5 surviving daughters until 1890. As she was 79 this could only be a temporary measure. She needed the help of an experienced businessman, preferably a brewer, to help her. She found him in W.P. Newland with whom she went into partnership on 5th August 1890. 

Find out more about the Newland and Nash Brewery in Part 2 

Thanks to Bedfordshire Archives for their background information – you can find a full description here.

Written by Lydia Saul, Keeper of Social History