Hammond's United Breweries Ltd (Part of Northern Breweries of Great Britain Ltd) Square Tin

Hammond's United Breweries Ltd tin tray dating from the 1960s. 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. Bentley's Lockwood Brewery, located in Huddersfield, was founded by Timothy Bentley in 1795. The Company was registered as Bentley & Shaw Ltd in 1891. The Tadcaster Tower Brewery was built in 1882 and was registered as Tadcaster Tower Brewery Co. Ltd in 1894. In 1944 Hammond's Bradford Brewery Co. Ltd acquired the Lockwood Brewery of Bentley & Shaw Ltd and its 192 public houses. In 1946 the Company purchased the Tadcaster Tower Brewery Co. Ltd and its 247 public houses. The Company name was changed to Hammond's United Breweries Ltd. At first, all three sites continued to brew and, in 1947, it acquired Seth Senior & Sons Ltd of Shepley. The original Fountain Brewery based in Bradford was closed in 1955 although the premises were used as offices. All brewing was concentrated at Huddersfield and Tadcaster. Hammond's United Breweries Ltd continued to expand and in 1956 it acquired Bentley's Old Brewery of Rotherham. In 1959, further acquisitions included R.F.Case & Co. Ltd of Barrow, and John Aitchison & Co. Ltd of Edinburgh. Hammond's United Breweries Ltd 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. Hardy's Crown Brewery Ltd of Hulme was acquired by United Breweries Ltd in 1962. United Breweries Ltd merged with Charrington & Co. Ltd in 1962 to form Charrington United Breweries Ltd. The Lockwood Brewery, which had played a pivitol role in the success of Hammond's United Breweries Ltd, including production of 'Guard's Ale' featured, closed in 1963. Remarkably, the Tadcaster Tower Brewery survived a number of further mergers and takeovers, including the Bass Charrington Ltd era, and is now still brewing under the ownership of Molson Coors Brewing Co. (UK) Ltd. The manufacturer's mark states - Made in Great Britain by Reginald Corfield Ltd 4665. The tray featured advertises Hammond's United Breweries Ltd "Guards Ale" which was brewed at the Lockwood Brewery, in Huddersfield, at the time.