Clinch & Co. Ltd Round Black Backed Steel

Clinch & Co. Ltd black backed steel tray dating from the late 1930s.

The Clinch's Early Years

James Clinch, a prominent banker and landowner, and his son James, founded the first Clinch Brewery, at the Marlborough Head public house, in Church Green, Witney, in the early 1810s.
When James died in 1857, his brother John Williams Clinch I, took over the running of the brewing operations.
John Williams Clinch I died in 1871, leaving his sons, William Clinch, and James Clinch Junior, in control of the business. James Junior died in 1877 leaving the contolling interest to William.
In 1883 William was joined in partnership with his sons-in-law, Thomas William Foreshew, and Bellingham Arthur Somerville.

1890 to 1945

In 1890 the Clinch family purchased the Blanket Hall Brewery, later named the Eagle Brewery, in Witney, William died in 1891 and the business was divided equally between Foreshew and Somerville, thus ending the control of the Clinch family. Despite this, the business traded as Clinch & Co.Ltd, in 1892.
Before World War I, the Company struggled financially, however the rise in the importance of bottled beers in the late 1920s and 1930s, stabilised business conditions and brought a measure of prosperity.
However, before World War II, the Company once again experienced mixed fortunes.
Whilst its ales were awarded brewing medals in 1937, due to the appointment of Head Brewer L.B.Clark, the poor state of its public houses was causing financial difficulties.

Post-War Trading and Takeover

After the War. the Company continued to grow, making it vulnerable for a takeover by a large national brewer.
The business was re-registered as Clinch & Co. Ltd (Witney) in 1950.
In 1962 the Company, with its Eagle Brewery and 97 public houses, was acquired by Courage, Barclay, Simonds & Co. Ltd, and brewing ceased in 1963.
The Company was eventually liquidated in 1967, and most of the brewery was demolished in 1979.

Reincarnation & Final Closure

The remains of the brewery, and its maltings, lay dormant until 1983, when it was purchased by Paddy Glenny. Brewing ceased in 1989 when Glenny moved the brewing operations to Station Lane, in Witney.
In 1994, the firm, now named Wychwood Brewery Ltd, moved back to the original site of the Eagle Brewery maltings.
In 2002 the brewery was acquired by a Refresh UK, and subsequently by Marstons PLC, in 2008.
In 2023 the brewery was closed once again by the Carlsberg Marstons Brewing Company, with production of its beers transferred to other Marstons breweries.

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