Flower & Sons Ltd Ceramic Jug

Flower & Son Ltd ceramic jug dating from the 1930s. The business was founded by Edward Fordham Flower in 1831. The original brewery was located on Brewery Street, Stratford-upon-Avon. In 1852 Edward was joined by his son Charles, and later by his younger son, Edgar and traded as E.F.Flower & Sons. The original site proved too small, and, although it continued to operate, a new brewery was built on Birmingham Street, Stratford-upon-Avon, in 1874. The Company was registered as Flower & Sons Ltd in 1888. As business continued to grow both home and abroad, the new brewery was continually upgraded, and, through a number of brewery aquisitions, Flowers tied estate increased considerably. By the turn of the 20th century trading conditions were far more difficult and the ambition to become a national brewer diminished. After WWI the Company continued to trade as an important provincial brewer and further acquisitions increased the estate to 350 tied houses. The Company, and its Stratford-upon-Avon brewery, was acquired by J.W.Green Ltd in 1954 and the name was changed to Flowers Breweries Ltd. Flowers Breweries Ltd was acquired by Whitbread & Co. Ltd in 1961. The Stratford-upon-Avon brewery was closed in 1968 when Whitbread & Co. Ltd merged Flowers with West Country Breweries Ltd to form Whitbread Flowers Ltd. All brewing was transferred to Cheltenham. The Flowers IPA brand name is still being used by AB-InBev. The manufacturer's mark states - Made in England Royal Doulton England