How Do All ,
Today`s sortie into the valleys of the cerevesian past is a post on the general history of a Major ,
If somewhat forgotten London brewer , later subsumed into the tripartite combine of ;
Watney, Combe Reid & Co Ltd .
Combe , Delafield & Co
Wood Yard Brewery
Castle St
Long Acre
London
WC 2
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| Drwaing of the Wood Yard Brewery ; From The Brewery History Society Webpage on Combe & Co |
Reputedly founded in the late seventeenth or early 18 Th century by a John Shackley ,
The Wood Yard Brewery which was also the site of John Shackley the 1 St`s cooperage was ,
After his death in 1722 continued by one of his sons , Also named John ;
That is , until the sale of the Long Acre site to Wm Giffard in 1739 who enlarged the brewery ,
Taking into partnership his brother Joseph and other local businessmen ; Peter Hammond
And appropriately enogh a Hop Merchant named Henry Evans , with the expanded partnership
Trading under the Giffard banner as Giffard & Co .
After the death of Wm Giffard , his share of the business was taken by his son Anthony ;
Acting in concert with the original partners ; Still operative under the style of Giffard & Co .
In June 1787 , the Wood Yard Brewery was sold by the partners for a paltry £ 90 , 000 ,
With a new partnership[ being formed by the new owners as a consequence ;
This enterprising band consisting of ,
Harvey Christian Combe : A Malt Factor ,
George Shum : Sugar Refiner ,
And Joseph Delafield , a brewer who made the short journey from Chiswell Street to become a
Partner ; Also joining the concern was a brewer at their Own brewery .
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| Drawing of Harvey Combe ; From The Brewery History Society Webpage on Combe & Co |
With the establishment of the partnership completed in 1787 ;
The prosperous Long Acre firm went on to the following breweries ;
Thos Newham : Goodman`s Fields ,In 1795 For the modest sum of £ 90 , 000 ,
Wm Cator of Old Street in 1799 ; Pickard & Maitland in 1809
Hollingsworth & Co of Southwark in 1816 for £ 50 , 000 .
With the death of George Shum in 1811 , Sir Charles Flower joined the burgoening partnership,
With Joseph Delafield admitting two of his sons Joseph , and Edward Henry ( Ca 1814 ) ;
After the death of Harvey Combe in 1818 , as was usual at the time ;
His son, Also named Harvey took over his father`s interests in the Long Acre premises .
In the late 1830`s the Wood Yard Brewery extended it`s site , the freshly expanded premises
Extended to cover nearby Langley St .
With the death of Joseph Delafield Jr in 1843 , the firm gained two new Partners ;
J W Spicer and D H Webb , and after the demise of Mr Webb in 1852; 2 more partners joined
The firm , Joseph Bonsor and Chas H Tanquerray who left the firm in 1869 to pursue his
Interests in brewing elsewhere . In 1873 ; Sir Cosmo Bonsor , Son of Joseph Bonsor inherited
His father`s shares in the Wood Yard Brewery partnership .
By the late 1880`s the output of the brewery had given tongue to the thought of registration ;
With the concern being registered as Combe & Co in 1888 , shortly after this event ;
The Scottish Brewery of More & Co on Old Street was purchased ( Ca 1889 ) .
By 1885 Sir Cosmo Bonsor had been appointed to the board of his friend James Watney`s
Stag Brewery at Pimlico and by the time five years had passed , the boards of both Combe and
Watney`s would no doubt have seen the advantages of combining their operations ;
With the noted brewery of Reid & Co joining the merger plans which, were brought to
Fruition in July 1898 when the new company was registered as Watney, Combe , Reid & Co Ltd;
With brewing operations being concentrated at Watney`s Stag Brewery in Pimlico after the
Closure of the Wood Yard Brewery in 1905 .
I hope you`ve all enjoyed this potted history of Combe & Co ;
Here`s some information on their 36 / - X O Mild Ales
December 1846 : 36 IBU , 5.9 % A B V
June 1855 : 36 I B U , 6.2 % A B V
June 1857 : 38 I B U , 6.2 % A B V
Other beers produced at The Wood Yard Brewery were ;
X X X 58 /- Mild Ale
X X X 58 /- Stock Ale
Stock , Running and Ordinary Porter @ 22 Lbs per Barrel ( Average Weight )
Stock Export and Single Stouts @ 25 Lbs Brl
Double Stout @ 29 Lbs / Brl
Treble Stout @ 34 Lbs Brl
Cheers All 🍻,
Edd
This article & Comments C Edd Mather 2025
