Russell's Gravesend Brewery Ltd Oval Black Backed Steel

Russell's Gravesend Brewery Ltd black backed steel tray dating from the 1910s. William Plane was operating at the brewery before 1841. The business traded as Plane & Heathorn until the brewery and wharf were acquired by the Russell family in 1858 with 22 public houses. The Company was registered as Russell's Gravesend Brewery Ltd in 1893. The Company's shrimp trademark was registered in 1898. The business expanded quickly and it acquired Webb & Co.'s Fort Brewery of Margate in 1897, the Writtle Brewery of the Writtle Brewery Co. Ltd in 1901, George Wood & Sons Ltd Gravesend Brewery in 1907, and James Fleet's brewery of Ramsgate in 1919. The Company's estate totalled 135 public houses after World War I. The brewery was acquired by Truman, Hanbury & Buxton & Co. Ltd with 223 tied houses in 1930. The premises were used for decades as a bottling plant but the buildings and equipment were sold in 1935. Truman's replaced Russell's shrimp trademark with its own eagle trademark. Some of the brewery buildings remain as private dwellings. The manufacturer's mark states - Hancor, Mitcham. 1.1/2M.F.U.A/R