John Richdale & Co. Ltd Round Alloy

John Richdale & Co. Ltd alloy tray dating from the late 1940s. In the 1870s John Richdale and Henry Tomlinson formed a partnership as common brewers. Trading as Richdale & Tomlinson, they purchased land on Bramall Lane, Sheffield, on which they built the Britannia Brewery in 1875. In 1889 Henry Tomlinson left the partnership to set up his own Anchor Brewery on the other side of Bramall Lane. Before the turn of the century John Richdale's estate included 19 public houses and off-licences. The Company was registered in 1898 as John Richdale & Co Ltd. After registration, the Company continued to purchase outlets in the City of Sheffield, and a few further afield. The quality of 'Richdale's Rich Ales' were reflected when, in 1938, the Company was awarded the Challenge Cup and two Championship Gold Medals, at the Brewers' Exhibition. The Britannia Brewery and its 25 tied houses, were acquired by Hammond's United Breweries Ltd in 1956. The tray featured is of a similar design to one produced before the war.