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.