George Bateman & Son Ltd Round Tin

George Bateman & Son Ltd tin tray dating from the 1950s.

1874 - Batemans is Born

Batemans was founded in 1874 by George Bateman, a local man, who sold his farm in Friskney in order to rent a brewery. Bateman purchased the brewing equipment from Edwin Crow whose father William Crow had founded the brewery in 1824.
In 1875 George Bateman purchased the brewery from Edwin Crow who, before he retired, passed on his knowledge to George and his wife Suzanna. Crow's expert brewer stayed on with Bateman despite his blindness.
In 1876 Bateman had earned enough from the business to purchase Salem House, 200 yards from the original brewery, and by 1880 a new Salem Bridge Brewery was operating within its coach houses.
In addition to brewing, Bateman bottled spirits and his wife baked bread.
Bateman's main clients were thirsty local farmers and their workers.
By 1910 the Company was engaged in the bottling of Guinness and Bass for its estate. In 1916 it also bottled beers for Thomas Salt & Co. Ltd.

Post World War I Trading

Due to tough restrictions, World War I proved to be a difficult time for the firm, but Harry Bateman, George's son, managed to obtain a licence to supply working mens clubs in Scunthorpe. This enabled the brewery to survive.
Harry, purchased the business from his father in 1919.
The Company fell on hard times during the 1920s, and at one point Bateman had to lay off all his employees. During these times however, Bateman did purchase and renovate the windmill which became its trade mark.
Despite its troubles, the Company was registered as George Bateman & Sons Ltd in 1928.
In the 1930s Batemans focussed much of its attention on the purchase of public houses, including a few in the seaside town of Skegness.
By 1948 the tied estate had grown to 68 pubs and in the following decade Bateman's Mild became its best selling ale.
Harry's eldest son, George, joined the Company in 1950, and when his father died in 1970, he took over running of the business. George Bateman ran the brewing operations while his brother John ran the Wine & Spirits side, based at Ridlingtons.
During the 1970s, George's wife, Pat, and his son Stuart, and daughter Jaclyn, joined the firm.
Batemans did brew keg beers, however through the emergence and influence of the 'Campaign for Real Ale' in the 1970s, and the passion for draught beer, it introduced Batemans XXXB, a strong real ale, in 1978. This was judged as a winner of 'Champion Beer of the Year' by CAMRA, in 1986.

The Bateman Family Split

By the end of the 1970s, and through the early to mid 1980s, there was increasing friction between George and John, mainly centred around the performance of Ridlington's wine & spirit business.
George held 40% of the shares, whilst John held 40%, and his sister Helen held 20%.
During the 1980s the Company faced a difficult decision, as half the family, John and Helen, wanted to sell the business, and the other half, led by George, wanted to continue brewing.
After an acrimonious process which involved dubious practices by a merchant bank, Chairman George G Bateman and his immediate family finally bought out the other family members, and the Company lived on.
In 2000 George Bateman was awarded 'Lifetime Achievement Award' from the Guild of British Beer Writers. Pat Bateman died in 2005 and her husband George passed away in 2007.
The Salem Bridge Brewery is currently being run by the fourth generation of the Bateman family, led by Stuart and Jaclyn, who are still brewing independently.
Batemans 'Good Honest Ales' are still brewed to the highest quality, whist the 5th generation wait to join the Company.

The manufacturer's mark states - Reginald Corfield Ltd Lombard Road.London.S.W.19. 575