Andrew Buchan’s Breweries Ltd Square Tin

Andrew Buchan's Breweries Ltd tin tray dating from 1959.

The Early Years

The Company was founded by William Copeland, Chairman of the Rhymney Iron Company, to supply beers to its employees.
The Rhymney Brewery began operating in 1839 with Andrew Buchan as its manager.
Control of the parent Company passed to the Powell Duffryn Steam Coal Company in 1920 and the brewing part of the business became a separate concern.
This separate brewing arm was registered as Andrew Buchan's Breweries Ltd in 1929.
Its famous 'Hobby Horse' trade mark dates from the acquisition of D.F.Pritchard Ltd of Crumlin in 1930.
In 1938 Andrew Buchan's Breweries Ltd purchased Crosswell's Cardiff Brewery Ltd. Brewing ceased at Crosswell's Brewery in 1947 although bottling continued until 1958.

The Modern Era

The name of the Company was changed to Rhymney Breweries Ltd in 1959.
In 1951 Buchan's had started an association with Whitbread & Co. Ltd and, in 1966, the Rhymney Brewery, which by this time had become the largest in Wales, was acquired and eventually closed by Whitbread's in 1978.

The manufacturer's mark states - Reginald Corfield Ltd Lombard Road. London. S.W.19. 594
The tray featured was produced just before the Company name changed from Andrew Buchan's Breweries Ltd to Rhymney Breweries Ltd. The tray dates from April 1959 and the name change occurred in May 1959.