J.G.Swales & Co. Ltd Round Tin

J.G.Swales & Co. Ltd tin tray dating from the 1960s.

James Wheatear Brewery Founder

The business was founded in Salford, by James Wheatear in the 1837.
James Wheater operated from the Victoria Brewery, named in honour of Queen Victoria's coronation, for over sixty years.
In 1851 James decided to advertise the brewery for sale, but he was unable to sell the property lease remaining as the sole owner until 1857. In that year he formed a new partnership which traded as Wheatear & Clowes.
Wheatear & Clowes traded for seven years when, in 1864, the Company became Wheatear & Swales.
The partnership of Wheatear & Swales acquired outlets in Salford, Manchester, and outlying districts including Cheadle and Handforth.
The Company was was registered as J.G.Swales & Co. Ltd in 1891 to acquire the business of Wheatear & Swales. It remained a family concern.

The Naval Brewery

The steady increase in the number of its tied houses and the small size of the Victoria Brewery, were the main reasons why Swales decided to seek alternative premises.
In 1899 Swales acquired the Naval Brewery, together with the Naval Arms brewhouse, from Wilsons Brewery Ltd.
Wilsons purchased the Naval Brewery from Cardwell & Co. Ltd which had been liquidated in 1899. The brewery was surplus to Wilsons requirements.
All brewing was transferred from the Victoria Brewery to the Naval Brewery in 1900.
J.G.Swales & Co. Ltd acquired Thomas W.Farrimond of Wigan in 1946, and operated from the Newtown Brewery, in addition to the Naval Brewery, until 1961, when brewing ceased.
In 1947 Swales introduced a new trade mark replacing the simple JGS monogram. The new version combined the Naval Brewery with a whale inside a lifeboat. Later a tall glass of foaming ale replaced the whale.
The Company, with its Naval Brewery and 38 public houses, was acquired by Boddington's Breweries Ltd in 1970, and brewing ceased.

The manufacturer's mark states - Made in Great Britain by Reginald Corfield Ltd. 5079