The Trustees of the late R.J.Bentley Old Brewery Rotherham Round Black Backed Steel

Bentley's Old Brewery (Rotherham) black backed steel tray dating from 1937. Robert Bentley was the son of Timothy Bentley who owned the Lockwood Brewery in Huddersfield. Robert founded the Old Brewery in Rotherham in 1825 and began purchasing public houses in the area. Robert was joined by his son, Robert John Bentley, in 1843, who ran the business before his father died in 1850. Timothy Bentley joined Robert John Bentley after Robert's death and the Company continued to purchase tied houses for its estate. In 1875 Robert John Bentley was pronounced 'a person of unsound mind' and was committed to a London mental asylum. Robert John died in 1890 resulting in the appointment of a board of trustees to administer Robert Bentley & Co. The trustees favoured a continuation of the firm's acquisitions strategy. The 1937 tray featured, confirms that the business traded as 'The Trustees of the late R.J.Bentley, which it did until 1949 when the Company was registered as Bentley's Old Brewery (Rotherham) Ltd. The Old Brewery was acquired by Hammond's United Breweries Ltd in 1956 and brewing ceased. The manufacturer's mark states - "Hancor", Mitcham. Made in England The tray pictured was one of many produced for breweries all over Britain to commemorate the Coronation of King George VI in 1937.