Hammond's Bradford Brewery Co. Ltd Round Black Backed Steel

Hammond's Bradford Brewery Co Ltd black backed steel tray dating from the 1930s. The Fountain Brewery was founded on Manchester Road, Bradford, by Joseph Paulin in 1840 and purchased by James Hammond in 1860. It was subsequently operated by Ezra Waugh until 1889 when the Company was registered as Hammond's Bradford Brewery Co. Ltd. The acquisitions of Ilkley Brewery and Aerated Water Co. Ltd in 1923, and the Springwell Brewery Co. Ltd of Heckmondwike in 1929, increased Hammond's estate by over 100 public houses. The main structural change to the Company occurred after the purchase of two sizeable breweries in the 1940s. Bentley & Shaw Ltd, its Lockwood Brewery and its 192 public houses, based in Huddersfield, was acquired in 1944 and the Tadcaster Tower Brewery and its 247 public houses, was acquired in 1946. The Company name was changed to Hammond's United Breweries Ltd after the Tadcaster Tower Brewery takeover. After Hammond's United Breweries Ltd had formed, it acquired Seth Senior & Sons Ltd Highfield Brewery of Shepley in 1947. The original Fountain Brewery based in Bradford was closed in 1955 although the premises were used as offices. All brewing was concentrated in Huddersfield and Tadcaster. After Hammond's United Breweries Ltd had acquired Bentley's Old Brewery of Rotherham in 1956, R.F.Case & Co. Ltd of Barrow, and John Aitchison & Co. Ltd of Edinburgh, in 1959, the Company merged with Hope & Anchor Breweries Ltd and John Jeffrey & Co. Ltd in 1960, becoming Northern Breweries Ltd. The name changed to Northern Breweries of Great Britain Ltd in March 1960 and changed again to United Breweries Ltd in October 1962. United Breweries Ltd merged with Charrington & Co. Ltd in 1962 to form Charrington United Breweries Ltd and the Lockwood Brewery was closed the following year. The Tadcaster Tower Brewery is still brewing under the ownership of Molson Coors Brewing Co. (UK) Ltd. The manufacturer's mark states - B337 but no maker's name. The tray featured was produced for the Fountain Brewery based in Bradford.