Bent’s Brewery Co. Ltd Small Round Tin

Bent's Brewery Co. Ltd tin tray dating from the early 1960s.

Bent's, a Brewing Family

Bent's first brewery was established by William Bent on Scotland Road in Newcastle-Under-Lyne in the 1790s.
By the end of the 19th century, Richard Bent was running the brewery.
In 1809 John Bent was apprenticed to his uncle Richard and worked there until 1820, when the brewery was closed.
John Bent returned to Liverpool and founded a new brewery on Johnson Street. The business prospered under John's leadership.
It was handed to his nephew, Roland Bent in 1857, and when he died in 1864, cousins William and Edward Bent took over.
Bent's purchased the seven storey New Brewery of Montgomery & Co. based in Stone, in 1888.
Its owner, Liverpudlian Thomas Montgomery, had recently lost a case against local Stone rival John Joule & Sons wherby he was deemed to be using the reputation of its 'Stone Ales' fraudulently.

Company Registration & Subsequent Expansion

Bent's Brewery Company Ltd was registered in 1889 to acquire the New Brewery of Montgomery & Co., based on Mount Street in Stone, and the New Brewery of R.Bent & Co. Ltd, based on Johnson Street in Liverpool City Centre.
Both of the Bent brothers became ill resulting in Edward Chevalier, Sir Archibald Savage, and Sir Thomas White, all prominent Liverpudlians, taking control of the business after its incorporation.
The Company prospered and diversified its interests by also becoming a successful wine and spirit merchants.
Bent's purchased the Chester Lion Brewery Co. Ltd in 1902 and Gartside's (Brookside) Brewery Ltd of Ashton-Under-Lyne with 180 public houses, in 1939. Brewing continued at the Brookside Brewery until 1970.
In 1957 the Company installed a new bottling plant in Stone, and it became recognised as one of the most modern breweries in the Midlands.
The Company was acquired by Bass Charrington in 1967 with an estate of 514 public houses.
The New Brewery in Liverpool was closed unexpectedly by Bass Charrington Ltd in 1968, and brewing in Stone ceased in 1975.
Bent's reputation locally never attained the same esteem as that of its Stone rival John Joules & Son Ltd.
The New Brewery in Stone is now occupied by many small businesses in an industrial estate.

The manufacturer's mark states - Made in Great Britain by Reginald Corfield Ltd. 4796