Catalogue description SAMUEL WEBSTER AND SONS LTD, FOUNTAIN HEAD BREWERY, OVENDEN, BREWERS, ADDITIONAL RECORDS

See also MISC925

Samuel Webster and Sons Ltd, Ovenden, brewers

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Accession number(s): WYAS1964

Date(s) of accession: 17 Aug 2004

Samuel Webster was only 25 when he took over a small brewery business and extensive water rights in Ovenden Wood. Within 10 years of being started the Firm had earned itself a reputation as the premier brewer in the North and went on to win medals in international competitions. Initially the Firm supplied its beers only to free houses, but in 1845 Samuel Webster bought his first pub - the Lane Ends Inn across the valley from the brewery. The Company also had an office at the Union Cross Yard in Halifax. Increasing demand led to redevelopment and extensions of the brewery in 1873. By 1880, Webster's had bought its 100th tied house and its estate included such notable public houses as the Cock Inn in Halifax town centre. In 1889, the business became a public limited company with Isaac Webster, Samuel's eldest son, becoming the 1st Chairman. The Firm continued to expand in the 19th century and in 1900 the Maltings was built to turn barley grains into malt for brewing. The business expanded steadily, with Webster buying up local brewers, including Joseph Stocks and Son of Halifax in 1932 and the Bradford brewer, J Hey in 1966. In 1972, the Firm joined the Watney Mann group and in 1973 a new brewhouse was commissioned. In 1979 a £6 million pound lager plant was started. In 1985, the Firm joined with Wilson Brewery of Manchester to form Samuel Webster and Wilsons Ltd. By then, both companies were part of the massive Grand Metropolitan Group. In 1988, the Company celebrated its 150th anniversary and at that time it serviced about 1000 pubs in the north of England and as far afield as Deganwy in North Wales. In 1990 they became part of the Courage Group (itself part of the Australian Group, Fosters). Finally Scottish and Newcastle snapped up Courage's breweries in 1995 and closed the Fountain Head Brewery in 1996