Bedfordshire's Breweries - Newland and Nash Brewery Part 3

On 5th August 1890, William Pritzler Newland went into partnership with Susan Nash (widow of W.J. Nash – see part 1). W.P. Newland wanted more outlets for sale in the immediate vicinity of his Brewery. He had partly compensated for this by specialising in sales to private customers, but he really needed public houses to be able to expand his trade significantly. The offer of a partnership with the Nash Brewery with a much larger brewing plant than his own in Duck Mill Lane and public houses in Bedford was a heaven sent opportunity for Newland.

Newland and Nash Ltd, Bedford, Stoneware Beer Flagon, BEDFM 2008.42.283, Chrystal Collection

In the years 1890-1900, W.P. Newland was the dominant partner of the firm, and masterminded the increased purchase of existing properties, and the development of strategic sites on the newly built estates as public houses.

Susan Nash died on the 12th May, 1895 and so W.P. Newland went into partnership on 9th October 1895 with her 4 sisters: Emily Cressy Nash (19 in 1871), Florence Mary (12 in 1871), Rosa Gertrude (9 in 1871) and Constance Eveline (8 in 1871). The new partnership bought extensively in the Bedford area, and in 1891 they bought 2 lots of the Queens Park Building estate on the corner of Fairfax Road and Iddsleigh Road. On this, they built the 'Globe'. In 1894 the Coventry-Campions to whom Newland was related by marriage sold off a building estate in Bedford and the partnership bought 4 sites from this.

Newland & Nash Ltd, Champagne Brandy Paper Label, BEDFM 1998.105.38

In 1895, they bought 'The Bell' in Sandy, formerly belonging to George Anstee's Brewery at Eaton Socon. By the late 1890's it was clear that neither family would be able to produce another generation of active partners. It was also clear that the steam brewery in Lurke Street was far too small, as it had since 1890 been carrying the business of two Breweries, the Duck Mill Lane having been sold off in 1889. The site of the future 'Bell' also had not been built on. A large injection for capital was therefore needed and so the decision was made to turn the partnership into a Limited Company called Newland & Nash. On 13th August 1897 the two families conveyed most of their joint property (except that in Pavenham and Stevington) to the new firm.

The report states that there had been a steady and yearly increase in sales since 1890, with 3000 barrels of beer and 1000 gallons of spirits made. The brewing plant had been designed to carry on one business and since 1890, it had carried two. In the past summer they had been unable to brew sufficient beer to meet requirements and the plant needed enlarging with new bottling stores, new cooper's and carpenters shops, and an extension of malting. The report stated that the Brewery had 21 public houses in Bedford alone.

The 'Bell' and the 1900-1902 improvements were certificated by H. Young, Architect of Bedford, who probably drew up the plans. The work on the Brewery was completed by 17th April 1900 at a cost of £1,980, 14s, 8d. In 1898 the 'Bell' was built at Westbourne Road and between 1900 and 1902 new offices and an engine room were built for the Lurke Street Brewery, as well as new stables at the Midland Hotel and rebuilding of the 'Chequers Inn' at Wilden.

Newland & Nash Ltd, Bedford, Fine Old Irish Whiskey Paper Label, BEDFM 1998.105.41

On 24th August 1900 William Pritzler Newland was buried at Kempston.

From 1900 to 1936 Newland & Nash continued as the company Director Richard Summers and Claude E. Clark, the Secretary to the Company, replaced W.P. Newland as the other Director. After Newland's death the property of the Brewery continued to expand, buying 9 public houses and other property during the years 1900 to 1914, including the important 'Greyhound' in Sandy.

The First World War naturally slowed this expansion down with only 4 properties being bought before takeover of Wells and Winch in 1922. For a short while, the Brewery at Lurke Street was mentioned. Soon, however, all brewing was done at Biggleswade and only an office remained to run the Bedford area of Wells and Winch property which included the Higgins Brewery (sold in 1927 to Wells and Winch). The name of Newland and Nash continued to be used until 1936 when full integration with Wells and Winch occurred. A number of properties were added during this time including 'The Swan', Bromham and the 'St. John Arms', Melchbourne.

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

Written by Lydia Saul, Keeper of Social History

You can read more of our Bedfordshire Breweries series, including Part 1 and Part 2 of the Newland and Nash story here.

Bedfordshire's Breweries - Newland and Nash Brewery Part 2

This second part of the Newland and Nash story starts with F.T. Young and W.P. Newland running a brewery on Duck Mill Lane. Frederick Thomas Young was born c.1835 at 9 Elms in Surrey. By 1862 he was the manager of the long established St. Paul's Brewery, owned by the Newland family of Kempston House. In 1871 he employed 12 men, making it one of the largest breweries of the town. In 1873 on the death of Bingham Newland, the Brewery was sold up and bought by Thomas Jarvis, owner of the recently built Phoenix Brewery. He wanted the public houses as outlets for his own Brewery and always intended to sell the site of St. Paul's Brewery, which he did in 1875 to the Harpur Trust to expand the site of the school. 

F.T. Young & Co, Bedford, Large Stoneware Beer Flagon, BEDFM 2008.42.275, Chrystal Collection

Being made redundant following the St. Paul’s Brewery land sale, F.T. Young decided to set up on his own. He leased an area north of the Duck Mill Lane, St. Mary's Parish, Bedford, from Anthony Tacchi a Carver, Gilder and Barometer maker on the High Street. Young pulled down the existing buildings and constructed a modern brick built steam brewery.

It was fully completed by February 1873. The Brewery formed part of a major development of the Duck Mill Lane area. A variety of tradesmen set up and developed their yards and factory sites there. Samuel Foster, the important Building Contractor, had offices built here at the same time. In 1870 the Island Skating Rink and Pounds for George B. Lincoln were completed. These years also saw the increased development of housing in the area.

On 29th December 1873 F.T. Young bought a small Brewery based on the 'Old Swan' at Eaton Socon from William Bowyer of Buckden for £3,200. The sale included 5 public houses in the Eaton Socon/ St. Neots area.

On 1st October 1874 ,F.T. Young went into partnership with William Pritzler Newland who was the brother of his former employer Bingham Newland. Because of the terms of his brother's will, W.P. Newland had not been able to inherit St. Paul's Brewery. Before going into partnership with F.T. Young William had already run his own malting on the west side of Elstow Road. F.T. Young  following the expansion of his brewery and holdings was short of ready money and struggling to keep up with his bills, so the merger presented many solutions.

Newland and Young, Brewers, Wine and Spirit Merchants, Bedford, Stoneware Flagon, BEDFM 2008.42.259, Chrystal Collection

W.P. Newland gained the Kempston estate on the death of his brother. He used the estate as security for a loan and provided the necessary finance to start his joint venture with F.T. Young. They purchased a number of existing public houses but interestingly, they purchased nothing in Bedford, near to their Brewery. With 7 other Breweries (of which 4 were recently built or enlarged) the competition for any public houses for sale was keen in the Bedford area. Newland and Young starting a little after the rest were at a disadvantage. After building the Brewery they had little spare finance for developing building sites for public houses.

On 10th January 1878 F.T. Young transferred his share of the business to W.P. Newland. Whether Newland bought him out or there was a disagreement is unclear, as none of the documents relating to the transaction have survived. W.P. Newland expanded the business at a very slow rate. The scattered nature of the Brewery's holdings must have caused high transport costs and it seems as if the venture was not all that successful as the Kempston estate and the Brewery had to be mortgaged.

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

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

Written by Lydia Saul, Keeper of Social History

Find out more about the Newland and Nash Brewery in Part 3.

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

Three Glittering Bowls

When you next visit The Higgins Bedford, put a little time aside to pop into The Settlement Gallery to stroll round and explore our local archaeology.

Our story begins with a very brief look at the geology of the area and moves swiftly into the Prehistoric period with bones of long gone Woolly Mammoths, Rhinoceroses’ and Cave Bears. The displays continue in chronological order and end with the siege of Bedford Castle and the beginnings of the medieval town.

About half way through your journey your eye will be caught by 3 large glittering copper alloy bowls. The bowls were found buried together in a deep pit in 1856 by workmen building the railway line near Sandy.

The bowls, measuring between 7cm and 11cm high and 23 cm and 31 cm in diameter, are very thin, about 2m thick and they are very lightweight. All three bowls are plain and undecorated apart from simple fluting around the rim edge. Each bowl would have been made by a skilful craftsman beating the shape out of a single sheet of copper alloy.

The bowls are Roman in date and would have originally formed part of a table service belonging to a wealthy household, probably a family living and working in the busy town of Sandy.

Quite why this nest of luxury metal bowls came to be buried near Sandy, we will never know. The most likely explanation could be related to the upheaval and the crumbling of the Roman administration in the province of Britannia, as the Roman Empire went into decline in the late 4^th to early 5^th century AD.

This transition would have affected all levels of society and many people would have faced an uncertain future. It is quite possible that the owners of the bowls fearing for their future decided to deliberately bury these valuable items to safe guard them until they could return at a later time to dig them up.

Written by Liz Pieksma, Keeper of Archaeology

Bedfordshire's Breweries - Thomas Jarvis & Co., Phoenix Brewery

Thomas Jarvis was born in 1803 at Eaton Socon. He moved to Bedford and married Ann Wainright in July 1826 at St. Paul’s Church. Their first and only child was Samuel Wainright Jarvis, born in February 1828. Sadly, Ann died aged just 44 years old on 31st December 1843.

By 1841, Thomas Jarvis had set up his brewery in Gwyn Street. At that time, there were eight breweries in Bedford and the brewing industry was second only to the cotton industry in the country. Weak or “small” beer was cheaper and safer to drink than water and both adults and children drank beer in preference to water.

Following the death of his first wife Ann, Thomas married Eliza Page on 30th July 1844 at St. Peter’s Church, Bedford. Eliza was from Gloucestershire and was 17 years younger than Thomas. Before Eliza married she had lived at the Moravian Girls College, 34 St. Peter’s Street, Bedford. The Moravian College was founded in 1801 and closed in 1911. Until the arrival of the Harpur Trust Girls School in 1882 it was the best girls school in the local area.

 

Jarvis and Co. Ginger Beer Bottle, BEDFM 2008.42.303, Chrystal Collection

By 1851 Thomas was living at 185 Gwyn Street with Eliza and their three children, Lewis, Robert, and, Mary Ann. They went on to have five more children, three girls, and two boys. Sadly, two of their daughters died in infancy. 

Jarvis and Co. ‘Old Rum’ Bottle, with Phoenix Brewery logo at top of label, BEDFM 2008.42.173, Chrystal Collection.

Over the years, the brewery went from strength to strength, so in 1866 Thomas expanded operations and moved to Midland Road to build a larger brewery. He called it the ‘Phoenix Brewery’, and he moved next door. Four years later, he was employing six men, and trading as Thomas Jarvis & Co., Brewers, Wine and Spirit Merchants. 

Jarvis and Co. Beer Bottle of green glass, BEDFM 2008.42.251, Chrystal Collection

Thomas was the victim of theft by one of his servant’s, Emma Green, who had been employed by him for about ten weeks. On Monday 31st May 1869, Emma Green appeared before the Borough Petty Sessions Court. The Bedfordshire Times on Saturday 5th June 1869, reported;

“Emma Green, aged about 21, a domestic servant, lately in the employ of Mr. Thomas Jarvis, brewer, was charged with stealing a cheque belonging to her late master, on the 26th May, and pleaded guilty. She was sentenced to two months’ imprisonment with hard labour. It appeared that the girl presented a cheque, drawn for £5, at Messrs Barnard’s Bank, on the 26th May., … an investigation took place at the bank, and Mr. Alger, chief clerk, discovered that the cheque thus presented belonged to the cheque book held by Mr. Jarvis … it was ascertained that five cheques had been taken away. The book had been left out of the bureau on one occasion … and on another occasion, the lock of the bureau had been forced. With many tears, Emma Green said she was very sorry she did not think what she was doing at the time. She did not take more than one cheque.”

Emma Green had lived with her parents and three siblings at Maldons Yard, Bedford. Her time in prison appeared to have taught her a lesson. Emma was able to turn her life around after her release from prison, she moved to Luton where she worked as a cook for a solicitor and his family.

The White Horse Inn, Midland Road, 1928, Lantern Slide by Walter N Henman, associated with Jarvis and Co. just before the pub was demolished to build Marks and Spencers on that site in 1929, BEDFM 1974.27.138

On the 16th July 1873, following the death of Bingham Newland of Newland and Nash brewers, Thomas Jarvis purchased St. Paul’s Brewery and 35 public houses for the sum of £34,200. He merged it with his Phoenix Brewery. In 1876 he sold the St. Paul’s brewery site to the Harpur Trust to extend its Grammar School. In 1883 Thomas retired and his three sons, Lewis, Robert, and Walter ran the brewery, trading as Jarvis & Company. On the 14th October 1886, Thomas died aged 83 years. He is buried in the graveyard behind the Moravian Chapel at St. Peter’s Street, Bedford. Lewis, Thomas’s eldest son, married Ada Maud Dawson on the 5th October 1876. They moved in to ‘Barley Craft’ at Sharnbrook in Bedfordshire and all their eleven children were born there.

Jarvis and Co. Beer Bottle, clear glass, BEDFM 2008.42.249, Chrystal Collection

Lewis retired on 13th May 1897. His brothers Robert and Walter then ran the firm of Jarvis & Co. On the 9th February 1912, Robert died aged 64 at his home Castle Lodge, Castle Hill, Bedford. Walter Jarvis was the last surviving partner of the firm and spent much of his time in the business. Walter died aged 58 years in 1915.

Jarvis and Co. Codd Bottle, BEDFM 2008.42.160, Chrystal Collection

In 1917, Charles Wells purchased the Phoenix Brewery for the sum of £79,000. It came with two maltings and 69 pubs and off-licences. In 1918, brewing ceased. 

Source:

https://www.fosterhillroadcemetery.co.uk/jarvis-a-family-of-brewers/

Written by Lydia Saul, Keeper of Social History

You can read more of our Bedfordshire Breweries series here.

Winning the War in the Fields - The Contribution of the Women’s Land Army during WWII

As we see people across the country growing their own fruit and vegetables during lockdown, and farmers struggling to be able to harvest the food in their fields, we are reminded of the women who worked tirelessly on the nation’s farmlands and market gardens to produce food during a time of rationing. 

Before the Second World War, Britain imported two thirds of the country's food by ship. When the war started in September 1939, shipping was attacked by enemy submarines and warships and cargo ships were requisitioned for war materials rather than food transportation. This resulted in food shortages, rationing of foods and materials, and increased necessity of self-sufficiency in food production.

Rita Woodward demonstrating her driving skills on Clophill Farm, 25 March 1941, Bedfordshire Archives, (Bedfordshire Times Archive), Ref: BTNeg1049/2

The first Women's Land Army was recruited as a civilian labour force during the First World War. Women were recruited to help farmers, replacing thousands of male farm workers who had joined the armed forces. Traditionally women's work on farms was limited to dairy work, looking after hens and egg production, caring for young animals and occasional seasonal harvesting work. Now women aged 18 and over were invited to do paid general work for local farmers. 

Take-up by farmers was slow because of conservative attitudes to the role of working women. It was difficult to persuade women to take on low-status work on the land. During the First World War, 23,000 women across the nation trained up and took on farm work, with 16,000 'land girls' working around the country. In Bedfordshire, 550 Land Girls worked for 90 farmers.

 Women’s Land Army Recruitment Parade, Bedford, 1 June 1940, Bedfordshire Archives, (Bedfordshire Times Archive), Ref: Z50/13/312

The Land Army was reinstated at the start of the Second World War, anticipating the need to recruit women to assist with farming and food production for soldiers abroad and the civilian population at home. Lady Denman, director of the Land Army, set up county committees. The WLA set up accommodation in the neighbourhood of farms for the land girls. Young women were expected to take over from experienced male farm workers who were called up into the armed forces, or left for better-paid war work elsewhere.

Sound Clip – Zoe Sinfield about her experiences joining and working for the Womens Land Army in Bedfordshire 

The Bedfordshire county WLA headquarters was at St. Paul's Square, later moving to Harpur Street in June 1942 where it remained until November 1949. 

First intake of Milton Ernest hostel land girls, Harpur Street, Bedford.

(Bedfordshire Times Archive), Bedfordshire Archives, Ref: BTNeg1290B

Recruitment locally was slow and only a handful of volunteers signed up, 24 were serving by end of December 1939, 53 by December 1940 and 140 by December 1941. The land girls were on minimum pay for a 50 hour working week in summer and 48 hours in winter. Pay was 28 shillings (£1.40p) per week, with 14 shillings (70p) deducted for board and lodging. This was less than half the national average for unskilled labour in other occupations and 10 shillings (50p) a week less than male agricultural workers. 

As a result of conscription in November 1941, Bedfordshire WLA had 506 land girls by December 1942, 792 by mid-1943 and 1006 in December 1943. 

Land girls dining at the new Milton Ernest hostel, 1942, (Bedfordshire Times Archive), courtesy of Stuart Antrobus, Source: B Nichols, Ref:BTNeg1315/1315B

From 1942 increasing numbers of women were being employed directly by Bedfordshire "War Ag" (Bedfordshire War Agricultural Executive Committee, or WAEC) and housed in hostels around the county. 

They were transported daily to surrounding farms, according to the seasonal needs of the farmers. Large numbers of recruits were from London, Essex and the northern counties of England (especially Yorkshire mill towns}.

There were seventeen residential hostels housing large groups of Land Girls and accommodation ranged from 16 in a farmhouse to 40 in huts and, exceptionally, to 100 in a large country mansion in Cople. Each hostel was encouraged to be self-sufficient in growing its own vegetables.

40 land girls were giving accommodation at the new Milton Ernest hostel, 1942, courtesy of Stuart Antrobus, Source: B Nichols. Ref:BTNeg1315/1315B

Hostel girls benefited from the company and support of other land girls both when working and during their time off, but life could be lonely and isolated for single land girls working on private farms.

Inter-hostel rivalry, Sharnbrook House sports day, July 1945, Bedfordshire Archives, (Bedfordshire Times Archive), Ref: BTNeg2141

There were three training centres at Luton Hoo, Toddington Park and Ravensden. Some Land Girls attended 4 weeks of induction training in milking, arable work and animal husbandry before being sent to work. 

Many land girls had to train on the job, but there were opportunities later to learn to drive tractors or do specialist training and pass tests to achieve proficiency certificates.

Farmers were set almost impossible challenges during the war. Bedfordshire War Ag. (Beds WAEC) set Bedfordshire farmers a target of 10,000 new acres to be ploughed up during 1940. Amazingly, they achieved 17,000 new acres of arable land.

Land Girls working on a haystack speaking to passing schoolboys at Great Barford, 13 May 1941, Bedfordshire Archives, (Bedfordshire Times Archive), Ref: BTNeg1081/1

Reclamation of previously uncultivated land was helped by the introduction of caterpillar tractors and other agricultural machinery from America, thanks to the Lend-Lease arrangement. Bedfordshire War Ag. was able to loan machinery to farmers who could not afford to buy their own and increasingly, land girls became expert mechanics on the farm. 

At the beginning of the war, two thirds of Britain's food was imported but by the end of the war, two thirds of Britain’s food was produced at home. Bedfordshire's land girls played a vital role in increasing self-sufficiency during the war. 

Land Girls in Bedford High Street, V E Day, 8 May 1945 (Bedfordshire Times Archive) Ref:

Z50/142/796

Their wartime contribution was finally recognised in 2007/2008 when the Government created a Veterans Badge which could be applied for by any surviving Land Girls (and Lumber Jills of the Women's Timber Corps) and events were arranged in every county to celebrate their wartime efforts.

I will finish with a poem from Hilda Gibson, who was a Land Girl and wrote about what it meant to her to finally receive recognition to her contribution to the war:

We're still standing

Rally round the badge girls,

Welcome it with pride.

Remember those no longer

Walking by our side.

Eighty thousand volunteers 

Of independent mind.

No marching, drilling or salutes,

Our roles were well defined.

Hard labour was our remit,

Each working hour to fill.

Livestock, crops and woodland 

We nurtured with a will.

We found fresh fields and pastures new 

In unfamiliar places.

Young sons of toil called up to arms,

Each man a girl replaces.

Frost bitten toes and fingers,

But wait! We soon will find 

As Shelley wrote: "If winter comes, 

Can spring be far behind?"

Our joy was summer sunshine 

And red gold autumn days

When leaves fell soft as snowflakes

And stirred the smoky haze.

As years roll by we live our lives,

The girls that time forgot.

We hoped one day someone would say: 

"You did well, thanks a lot".

Now better late then never,

At last we hear the call,

The Cinderella army 

Is going to the ball.

By Hilda Gibson, Land Girl

There are very few Land Girls still, alive. Zeita Hole nee Trott, who lives in Bedford, is one of them. Here are some links to her story from the BBC VE Day commemorations:

https://www.womenslandarmy.co.uk/?s=zeita+trott   

https://www.womenslandarmy.co.uk/ve-day-75th-anniversary/ 

Acknowledgements: I would like to thank Stuart Antrobus for the information and images provided in his publication ‘We wouldn’t have missed it for the world, The Womens Land Army in Bedfordshire 1939 – 1950’, and Bedfordshire Archives for the use of their archive images. The sound clips are taken from the BBC Peoples War archive for which I would like to acknowledge the work of Ann Hagen and Jenny Ford.

Written by Lydia Saul, Keeper of Social History

Bedfordshire's Breweries - Whitbread Brewery

Samuel Whitbread was born in 1720 at Cardington. At 14 he was sent to London to become an apprentice to a brewer, John Witman. Samuel then went into partnership with Godfrey and Thomas Shewell and by 1750, they started operating a shared brewery site on Chiswell Street. Samuel Whitbread created the first purpose-built mass-production brewery in the UK and over the following years, Whitbread became a household name.  In 1765 Whitbread bought Shewell out and by 1800 the brewery was the largest in London. Samuel Whitbread was a pioneer of new brewing techniques and in 1784 installed the first ever steam engine, designed by famous engineer, James Watt.

Samuel Whitbread II (1758-1815) by John Opie Fp.71

Building on his success with the brewing business, Samuel Whitbread decided to enter politics, and was elected as a Member of Parliament for Bedford in 1768, a seat he held until 1790. The year before his death in 1796, Samuel Whitbread bought Southill Park, a 17th century house, remodelled by George Byng, 1st Viscount Torrington.

Ashtray advertising Whitbread’s Brewery company, Chrystal Collection, BEDFM 2008.42.58

Samuel Whitbread's son, another Samuel (1758-1815), is probably the most well-known member of the family. He was born in Cardington and entered the family brewing business in 1786. In 1787 King George III and Queen Charlotte paid a visit to Chiswell street and according to the newspapers of the day, the King was ‘wonderfully pleased’ with the innovative steam engine.

W H Allens Sports and Social Club Darts championship trophy presented by Whitbread and Co. Ltd, BEDFM 2011.6.22

Samuel entered parliament as member for Bedford, his father's old seat, in 1790. Whereas his father had been a Tory, Samuel junior was a Whig.  A zealous reformer Whitbread campaigned for the abolition of slavery and for a national system of education. He was the leader of the Whig party, the opposition, in parliament after the death of Charles James Fox in 1805. He made the mistake of championing Napoleon's reforms in France and came to be seen as a supporter. During 1814 Whitbread began to suffer depression, which sadly led to his suicide, on 6 June 1815, just twelve days before the battle of Waterloo.

The Whitbread family still live at Southhill Park and continued in the brewing business until it was sold in 2000.

Written by Lydia Saul, Keeper of Social History 

You can read more of our Bedfordshire Breweries series here.

Making COVID-19 History

The Higgins Bedford would like for you to share your experiences of life during the outbreak.

Are you keeping a journal, taking photographs of your daily exercise, posting to social media? Are you running a local business to support local people day to day, or creating a rainbow artwork for your front windows?  Have you volunteered to be part of a community initiative to support those self-isolating or our key workers? Are you a key worker facing the busiest time of your working life?

We are all in the midst of it now, but one day this pandemic will be history. The full impact of the COVID-19 crisis will be important to document and evaluate for future generations looking back at this historic event.

The Higgins Bedford and Bedfordshire Archives would like to recognise all the varied and different contributions that are specific to our local area during this crisis, to be a repository for those stories and items for future generations as a tribute and record of life during the crisis.

Courtesy of Chiara MacCall @CallChiara

Each day of lockdown Chiara is using her daily exercise walk to reach out to someone in Bedford. By arrangement she walks past their house, waves from a distance and takes a photo. It’s not a hug or a handshake, but it’s a safe way of staying connected with people and reminding each other we are not alone.

If you have a story, photographs, video, poetry, letters, journals, artworks, objects or other contributions related to your own response to the COVID-19 crisis you would like to tell us about and potentially offer as a donation following the end of the crisis, please email Lydia Saul, Keeper of Social History at The Higgins Bedford at Lydia.Saul@bedford.gov.uk for further information.

Your suggestions and offers will be placed onto our potential list of COVID-19 collection items. The Higgins Bedford and Bedfordshire Archives will consider them for acquisition into the collections following the end of the COVID-19 crisis and they will get in touch with you for further information. 

Bedfordshire's Breweries - Charles Wells Brewery

Charles Wells was born in Bedford in 1842. When he left the Commercial School (now Bedford Modern School) at the age of 14, he was determined to join the Navy. In 1856 he joined the “Devonshire” as a midshipman and sailed from London to India. He was rapidly promoted to Chief Officer by 1868 and served on three ships.

BEDFM 2003.243, Portrait photograph of Charles Wells

All of this changed when he was on leave and fell in love with Josephine Grimbly in 1870. Her father approved of the match, but he did not want Charles to marry his daughter whilst serving in the Merchant Navy. He felt it was too dangerous and Charles would be away from home too often. Having left the Navy, Charles married Josephine in 1872. In December 1875 the Horne Lane Brewery was put up for sale at auction and sold for £16,000 to Charles. The Horne Lane Brewery was situated alongside the river Ouse with wharves, where malt and hops could be unloaded and beer dispatched.

(Left) BEDFM 2008.42.250, Charles Wells bottle with starfish design, Chrystal Collection
(Right) BEDFM 2006.328, Charles Wells model toy vehicle, c.1993

Charles threw himself wholeheartedly into the business and was successful. His early beer bottles carried the starfish design, chosen by him because of his love for the sea and the naval career he had given up to marry Josephine, and pursue his new business venture. In 1881 he bought 9 pubs for £4,486 and by 1889 he had paid off his loan. In 1890 the brewery owned 80 pubs and traded 12,552 barrels per year. Charles’ personal fortune amounted to £120,000.

BEDFM 2008.42.385, Commemorative Plate celebrating 

100 years of brewing for Charles Wells, 1876 – 1976, 

Chrystal Collection

Charles was in poor health for several years while running the business with help from his sons. He died on 18th April 1914, survived by Josephine, 5 sons and 3 daughters. He is buried in Foster Hill Cemetery, Bedford. His obituary in the Bedfordshire Times stated; "All who knew Mr. Wells, whether in business or private life, regarded him as one of the straightest men that ever breathed. There was about him all the brusqueness, candour and honesty of the British manner".

Written by Lydia Saul, Keeper of Social History

You can read more of our Bedfordshire Breweries series here.

Bedfordshire’s Breweries - The Higgins & Sons Brewery

Charles Higgins and his family moved to Bedford in the 1820s. He was proprietor of the Swan hotel and founded the brewery on land owned by the Duke of Bedford at Castle Lane. The brewery was built 1838 and Charles built the Higgins family home next to it in 1842. The family business was very successful and they were influential figures in the town for over a hundred years.

Bradford Rudge (1813-1885) Bedford Times Coach © The Higgins Bedford Collection. Charles Higgins standing in the door way to The Swan Inn in the red slippers.

As well as founding the brewery, Charles Higgins (c.1789-1862) was a successful Liberal politician and Mayor of Bedford. During his tenure as Mayor he was presented with a silver salver (now on display in the Mayor's Parlour) commemorating the ‘zeal, ability and humanity extended by him’ during the cholera epidemic of 1849. Following Charles Higgins' lead, the Higgins family remained devoted to Bedford life. George Higgins (1816-1883), Cecil's father, was a Justice of the Peace, a member of the Town Council and a Trustee of the Harpur Charity. Lawrence (1849-1930), Cecil's brother, was also a Justice of the Peace, and Cecil (1856-1941) was a local magistrate for many years.

(Left) Higgins Brewery c.1895 (Right) Plan of brewery site and Higgins family home at Castle Close

Charles Higgins’ son, George, ran the brewery in partnership with Charles and then passed the baton to his second son Lawrence. Cecil, the youngest of the family, moved to London and enjoyed the high life, visiting the opera, gallivanting around in his Rolls Royce, and collecting decorative pieces of furniture for his home. The brewery and house buildings were bought from the Duke of Bedford by Lawrence and Cecil in 1908 for £13,250.

(Left) Photograph of Cecil Higgins © The Higgins Bedford Collection (Right) Higgins and Sons Ltd bottle, BMG.25

The brewery was very successful and the brothers bought over 40 local pubs, including The Case is Altered at Ravensden and the Cat and Custard Pot at Shelton. Eventually Lawrence retired from the operational side of the business and Cecil was given responsibility for the brewery. It remained in the Higgins family for over 90 years until brewing ceased on 5 October 1928 when Cecil Higgins, then over seventy, decided to sell. In 1931 competitors Wells & Winch Ltd. of Biggleswade bought the brewery for £180,000 and promptly closed it down.

Lantern Slide of The Case is Altered, Ravensden, Walter N Henman, 1939, BEDFM 1974.27.599

After the sale, Cecil devoted his later life to collecting fine and decorative art with the aim of founding a museum ‘for the benefit, interest and education of the inhabitants of, and visitors to Bedford’. Cecil Higgins Art Gallery opened in 1949 in the Higgins family home. The brewery became Bennett’s Clothing factory for a time and during the Second World War factory workers made shirts for the military. Later the buildings became a postal sorting office. When this closed in the 1960s the building fell into disrepair and was nominated for refurbishment by the Bedford Borough Council so that Bedford Museum could move into the former Higgins & Sons Brewery building in 1981, housing the Bedford Modern School collection. The brewery and house opened as The Higgins Bedford in 2013 following refurbishment and extension of the buildings as one complete site.

Written by Lydia Saul, Keeper of Social History

You can read more of our Bedfordshire Breweries series here.