COMBE , DELAFIELD & Co : A SHORT HISTORY & 36 /- " XO " MILD ALES

 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

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 .

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