Benskin's Watford Brewery Ltd Ceramic Coaster

Benskin's Watford Brewery Ltd ceramic coaster dating from 1900. The business was founded by John Pope in 1693. Joseph Benskin purchased the Company in 1867 and at that time it was a relatively small concern. The Company was registered as Benskin's Watford Brewery Ltd in 1894. By the time its local competitor, Well's Watford Brewery Ltd had been taken over in 1951, Benskin's had acquired sixteen breweries and had become the largest brewer in Hertfordshire. The Company remained a family business until its acquisition by Ind Coope & Allsopp Ltd in 1957. Ind Coope Ltd merged with Tetley Walker Ltd and Ansells Brewery Ltd in 1961 and this newly created Company was later renamed Allied Breweries Ltd in 1963. The Cannon Brewery survived for just over ten years after the merger, however brewing eventually ceased in 1972 and the site was demolished in 1979. The manufacturer's mark states - W.T.Copeland & Sons Stoke on Trent England