Whitbread Wethereds Ltd Square Tin

Whitbread Wethereds Ltd tin tray dating from the late 1970s. Evidence suggests that the Wethered family started business in Marlow in 1758. Three generations of the Wethered family had been involved in brewing before Thomas Wethered formed the business of Thomas Wethered & Sons in 1783. By 1788 he had built up a prosperous business resulting in a need for larger premises, and in 1796 he built a new brewhouse, stable, and storehouses on the High Street in Marlow. At the beginning of the 19th century two of his sons, Owen and Lawrence William, became partners in the firm. Thomas died in 1849 and Owen died in 1862 leaving Owen's sons, Thomas Owen and Owen Peel to run the business. When the Company was registered as Wethered & Sons Ltd in 1899, Colonel Owen Peel became Chairman. He died in 1908 leaving his son. Lt Colonel Francis Owen Wethered, as the new Chairman. The firm traded very successfully and in 1913 it purchased Henry Bird's Weldale Brewery of Reading with 9 tied houses. World War I resulted in many of Wethered's men losing their lives which was reflected in a Roll of Honour board displayed at the brewery. The Great War saw the business struggle, although Wethered's won the Championship Gold Medal at the Brewers' Exhibition in 1914, a testament to the quality of its beers. In 1927 the Company acquired Thomas Williams & Co Ltd's Royal Stag Brewery of Wooburn Green, with 35 tied houses. Thomas Wethered & Sons Ltd, with 236 tied houses, was acquired by Strong & Co. Ltd in 1949 ending the Wethered's association with the firm. Strong's continued to operate the Marlow Brewery with both businesses trading separately. In 1950 the Company acquired Strange & Sons Ltd's Aldermaston Brewery with 50 public houses and in 1953 it bought S.H.Higgs Ltd's Lion Brewery of Reading with 8 tied houses. Strong & Co. Ltd together with nearly 500 public houses was taken over by Whitbread & Co. Ltd in 1969, resulting in Wethered's becoming a direct subsidiary of Whitbread's. The Company name was changed to Whitbread Wethereds Ltd and the Marlow Brewery ceased brewing in 1988. The premises were used as a distribution centre until 1992. The Marlow Brewery was redeveloped as luxury apartments in the 2000s.