Marston, Thompson & Evershed Ltd Round Black Backed Steel

Marston, Thompson & Evershed Ltd black backed steel tray dating from the 1930s. Trading as J.Marston & Son, the Horninglow Brewery, near Burton-on-Trent, was established in 1834 by John Marston. In 1846 the business passed to his second son John Hackett Marston, who, along with his two brothers, William and Henry, continued to develop the firm. By 1861 John Hackett Marston had become the sole owner of the Company and the business continued to grow rapidly. After his retirement in 1888, John sold the firm to Henry Sugden who purchased John Yeomans Blue Posts Brewery, Burton-on-Trent, in 1890 with 8 premises. In 1890 the Company was registered as John Marston & Son Ltd. After a merger with John Thompson & Son Ltd in 1898 the name was changed to J.Marston, Thompson & Son Ltd. In 1898 the Company purchased a 79 year lease from Mann, Crossmann & Paulin Ltd, for the Albion Brewery on Shobnall Road, Burton-on-Trent, moving operations there shortly afterwards. The Albion Brewery used the Burton Union system of fermentation, perfect for the brewing of Marston's ales and for increased capacity required for business growth. Two further breweries were acquired in 1900 and 1904, Daniel Pettifor & Sons of Anstey, and Ealand's Brewery of Southwell, increasing the estate by a further 30 public houses. In 1905 the Company purchased Sydney Evershed Ltd becoming Marston, Thompson & Evershed Ltd. The Company continued its rapid growth and in-between the two World Wars it acquired a further nine breweries, Walker's Leek Brewery, Zachary Smith & Co. of Shardlow, Pim & Co. Ltd of Stoke-on-Trent in 1922, Winchester Brewery Co. Ltd in 1923, Pearce's Crystal Fountain Brewery Co. of Market Drayton in 1925, Newport (Salop) Brewery Co.Ltd in 1927, Alfred Bertwistle & Sons of Appleby in 1928, John Elworthy & Co. Ltd of Kettering in 1931 and Lewis Clarkes Ltd of Worcester in 1937. Over 200 public houses were added to its estate as a result. After the Second World War, Marston's acquisition strategy continued unabated with the purchase of Taylor's Eagle Brewery Ltd of Gorton with 60 public houses in 1958, W.T.Rothwell Ltd of Newton Heath in 1961, W.A.Smith & Sons Ltd of Macclesfield with 20 public houses in 1962, and finally, Border Breweries (Wrexham) Ltd with 170 public houses in 1984. Marston, Thompson & Evershed Ltd and its Albion Brewery were acquired by Wolverhampton & Dudley Breweries Ltd in 1999. In 2007 the Company changed its name to Marstons PLC. In 2020 Marstons PLC merged with Carlsberg UK becoming Carlsberg Marston's Brewing Company of which Marstons PLC has a 40% shareholding. The Albion Brewery is still operating as part of the new Company. The only manufacturer's mark is the number 8109