Hewitt Brothers Ltd Round Tin

Hewitt Brothers Ltd tin tray dating from the 1950s. The Pasture Street brewery, located in Grimsby, was built by John Garniss in 1806. Hewitt family members took over the lease of the brewery in 1871. In 1874 the brewery was sold to the partnership of William Taylor Hewitt and his son Thomas W.Good Hewitt. Hewitt Brothers was formed in 1885 and in 1888 the company and its Tower Brewery was registered as Hewitt Brothers Ltd. The majority of the shareholding was held by W.T.Hewitt brewer and Chairman, and his son T.W.G.Hewitt brewer and secretary. After purchasing the business, W.T.Hewitt personally visited licensed houses in the Grimsby area, successfully persuading them to buy his beer and the company expanded quickly. When William died in 1902, Thomas replicated his father's care and drive and the company continued to grow. In 1922 Hewitt Brothers Ltd acquired Norton & Turton of Lincoln. By the start of WWI Hewitt Brothers had purchased four local breweries in Grimsby, Doncaster, Retford and Gainsborough. Hewitt Brothers Ltd became a public company in 1934. During the 1930s the Tower Brewery was constantly upgraded and expanded as was the company's retail estate. By 1951 Hewitt Brothers owned 287 licensed premises and was a perfect target for a takeover. The brewery's independence ended when United Breweries Ltd became the largest shareholder and acquired the Tower Brewery and its 320 public houses in 1961. United Breweries Ltd merged with Charrington & Co. Ltd to form Charrington United Breweries Ltd in 1962. Charrington United Breweries Ltd subsequently merged with Bass, Mitchells & Butlers Ltd to form Bass Charrington Ltd in 1967. Hewitt's Tower Brewery closed in 1968 soon after the Bass Charrington Ltd merger. Most of the brewery buildings have been demolished either as a result of fire or by time, and only the barley store remains. The manufacturer's mark states - Reginald Corfield Ltd Lombard Road. London. S.W.19.