Wadworth & Co. Ltd Round Tin

Wadworth & Co. Ltd tin tray dating from the 1970s. Evidence suggests that the original Northgate Brewery, on the South side of Northgate Street in Devizes, was founded in 1768. Henry Alfred Wadworth purchased the brewery in 1875 and traded as Wadworth & Co. In 1885 he built a new, larger Northgate Brewery close to the original site. in 1889 the Company was registered as Wadworth & Co. Ltd. Soon after registration Wadworth's acquired the Southbroom Brewery of J.F & H.S.Humby and dismantled it in 1890. The brewery and Bell Inn of George Wild & Co. in Devizes was acquired in 1903 and the Three Crowns home brew house of Charles William Phipp of Devizes was purchased in 1919. The Three Crowns Brewery continued to operate until 1933. The Company traded very successfully and used the opportunity to boost sales during the First World War when it supplied its beers to the Army Canteen Board, later re-named the NAAFI. The last remaining Devizes brewer, other than Wadworth's, Charles James Hare of the Hounds, was acquired in 1920. In 1923 its famous Wadworth's 6X ale was first brewed and is still being enjoyed by its customers today. A new brewhouse was opened in 2008 and a modern visitor centre provides tours of the brewery. The firm is still an independent brewer with over 270 public houses some of which are still supplied locally in Devizes by its famous shire horses. In 2019 the Company announced plans to build a new brewery and move to a new site in Devizes.