Thomas Ramsden & Son Ltd Ceramic Ashtray

Thomas Ramsden & Son Ltd ceramic ashtray dating from the 1930s. Brewing at Ward's End in Halifax was established by the Gibson family in the early 18th century. Ownership of the firm changed hands several times. T.Boothroyd & Son operated the brewery from 1818 to 1821, which sold it to Peter Beck in the 1830s. The Stone Trough Brewery was sold to Smith & Foster in the 1850s, and was acquired by Lupton, Charnock & Co. in 1862. The brewery was so named as water from local springs ran through stone troughs on site, from which its beers were brewed. In 1881 the business was sold by Lupton, Charnock & Co. to Thomas Ramsden. Thomas previously ran the Clough Brewery in Mixenden, where he lived. The Company was registered as Thomas Ramsden & Son Ltd in 1884, with the brewery at Ward's End and its offices on Commercial Street in Halifax. A new larger and impressive brewery building was constructed on the same site in 1887. The Company traded successfully and, in 1919, it acquired local rival James Alderson & Co. Ltd, its Warley Spring Brewery, and 36 public houses. In 1964 Ramsden's, with an estate of 117 tied houses, merged with Joshua Tetley & Son Ltd which was a subsidiary of Allied Breweries Ltd. The Stone Trough Brewery was closed by Allied Breweries Ltd in 1967 and in 1968 the site was demolished. Halifax Building Society purchased the site for its Head Offices which were opened in 1974. The manufacturer's mark states - Carlton Ware Registered Trademark Made in England