Marston, Thompson & Evershed Ltd Ceramic Bell

Marston, Thompson & Evershed Ltd ceramic bell dating from the 1920s.

John Marston & Son

The Horninglow Brewery, near Burton-on-Trent, was established in 1834 by John Marston. His firm traded as J.Marston & Son.
In 1846 the business passed to his second son John Hackett Marston, who along with his two brothers, William and Henry, continued to develop the firm.
By 1861 John Hackett Marston had become the sole owner of the Company and the business continued to grow rapidly.
After his retirement in 1888, John sold the firm to Henry Sugden who purchased John Yeomans Blue Posts Brewery of Burton-on-Trent, in 1890 with 8 premises.
In 1890 the Company was registered as John Marston & Son Ltd.
In 1891 the new Company purchased the Anchor Inn and brewery on New Street in Burton-on-Trent. John Marston & Son then acquired 7 public houses of Thomas Beardsmore of Hinkley, and 13 public houses of Henry Wilford of Coventry in 1896.
After a merger with John Thompson & Son Ltd in 1898 the name was changed to J.Marston, Thompson & Son Ltd.
In 1898 the Company purchased a 79 year lease from Mann, Crossmann & Paulin Ltd, for the Albion Brewery on Shobnall Road, Burton-on-Trent, moving operations there shortly afterwards.
The Albion Brewery used the Burton Union system of fermentation, perfect for the brewing of Marston's ales and for the increased capacity required for business growth.
Two further breweries were acquired in 1900 and 1904, Daniel Pettifor & Sons of Anstey, and Ealand's Brewery of Southwell, increasing the estate by a further 30 public houses. Beard Hill & Co. Ltd of Church Gresley was acquired in the same era.

Marstons, Thompson & Evershed Ltd Acquisitions

In 1905 the Company purchased Sydney Evershed Ltd becoming Marston, Thompson & Evershed Ltd.
The Company continued its rapid growth and in-between the two World Wars it acquired a further nine breweries.
Walker's Leek Brewery, Zachary Smith & Co. of Shardlow, Pim & Co. Ltd of Stoke-on-Trent were purchased in 1922, Winchester Brewery Co. Ltd in 1923, Pearce's Crystal Fountain Brewery Co. of Market Drayton in 1925, Newport (Salop) Brewery Co.Ltd in 1927, Alfred Bertwistle & Sons of Appleby in 1928, John Elworthy & Co. Ltd of Kettering in 1931, and Lewis Clarkes Ltd of Worcester in 1937.
Over 200 public houses were added to its estate as a result.
In 1952 Marston's Pedigree was introduced to the market. It became the Company's flagship beer having been named in a staff competition which was won by Marjorie Newbold, a pool typist.
After the Second World War, Marston's acquisition strategy continued unabated with the purchase of Taylor's Eagle Brewery Ltd of Gorton with 60 public houses in 1958, W.T.Rothwell Ltd of Newton Heath in 1961, and W.A.Smith & Sons Ltd of Macclesfield with 20 public houses in 1962.
Its final purchase was Border Breweries (Wrexham) Ltd with 170 public houses in 1984.

Wolverhampton & Dudley Breweries Ltd Takeover

Marston, Thompson & Evershed Ltd, with its Albion Brewery, was acquired by Wolverhampton & Dudley Breweries Ltd in 1999.
In 2005 Marston's Albion Brewery took over the production of Draught Bass under licence from Interbrew.
In 2007 the Company changed its name to Marstons PLC.
Marstons PLC took over the production of Thwaites beers in 2014, and the brands of Bombardier, McEwans, Courage and Youngs, from Charles Wells Ltd of Bedford in 2017.
In 2020 Marstons PLC merged with Carlsberg UK becoming the Carlsberg Marston's Brewing Company of which Marstons PLC has a 40% shareholding.
The Albion Brewery is still operating as part of the new Company.
In 2024 Carlsberg purchased Marston's 40% stake in the business, ending 190 years of brewery ownership. Marston's retained ownership of its 1,400 public houses.
In 2025 Marston's name was dropped when the Company acquired Britvic plc becoming Carlsberg Britvic.

The manufacturer's mark states - T.G.Green & Co Ltd Church Gresley