Samuel Allsopp & Sons Ltd Ceramic Coaster

Samuel Allsopp & Sons Ltd ceramic coaster dating from the 1900s.

The Origins of the Brewery

Allsopp's origins date from 1742 when Benjamin Wilson acquired the Blue Stoops Inn and brewery located on High Street in Burton-on-Trent. Benjamin brewed beers on the premises and sold some to other innkeepers in Burton-on-Trent.
Over the next 60 years, Benjamin and his son and successor, also called Benjamin Wilson, cautiously built up the business and became the town's leading brewer.
The Company traded as Benjamin Wilson & Sons, Benjamin Wilson & Co. and Wilson Brothers.
In 1790 the Company acquired Samuel Sketchley's brewery on Horninglow Street.

Samuel Allsopp Brews Indian Pale Ale

In 1800 Samuel Allsopp, nephew of Benjamin Wilson, joined the business and by 1807 he had become the sole owner.
When Samuel became owner, the Company owned the original, now expanded, brewery on High Street and Sketchley's brewery on Horninglow Street.
Initially economic trading conditions were tough, due mainly to the Napoleanic Wars which resulted in blockades to lucrative markets.
In 1822 Samuel was responsible for brewing Indian Pale Ale for the first time in Burton-on-Trent, resulting in a slow turnaround of fortunes.
After Samuel's death in 1838, his sons Charles and Henry continued to manage the brewery and traded as Allsopps & Sons.

The New Brewery

Between 1859 and 1860, Henry Allsopp oversaw the construction of a magnificent New Brewery and offices. The offices faced directly onto Station Street with the New Brewery behind. There was direct access to the Midland Railway.
The Company retained its High Street brewery and built large maltings in Shobnall and numerous other company premises elsewhere in the town.
By 1861 Allsopps was the second largest brewer in Burton-on-Trent, after Bass. In 1862 the famous 'Red Hand' trade mark was used for the first time, and in 1876 Allsopp's Double Diamond Burton Pale Ale was brewed for the first time.

Samuel Allsopp & Sons Ltd Registration & Financial Struggles

In 1887 Allsopps was incorporated as a public limited company named Samuel Allsopp & Sons Ltd. The flotation caused major interest but within a few years investors were demanding their money back due to the Company's poor performance. Allsopps lurched from crisis to crisis.
Quality problems and a lack of tied houses resulted in the appointment of a new head brewer to improve standards. The Chairman Percy Allsopp was responsible for the purchase of numerous public houses at over inflated prices.
Worse was to come. In 1897 the old High Street brewery was converted into a lager brewery at great expense. The ambitious introduction of this brewery did not create the sales that were anticipated and resulted in Percy Allsopp's resignation in 1900.
George Allsopp replaced him but died in 1907 and thereafter the Company traded without an Allsopp connection, ending 100 years of tradition.

James Calder Acts for the Receiver

Allsopp's went into receivership in 1911. The receiver brought in a Scottish brewer, John J.Calder, to run the Company.
Calder was responsible for the acquisition of a number of breweries including Showell's Brewery Co. Ltd Crosswells Brewery of Oldbury and its 194 public houses in 1914, and the New Bedford Brewery (Plymouth) Ltd in 1919 when production was transferred to the New Victoria Brewery Co.Ltd which Allsopps already owned.
Also purchased were, Hall's Oxford Brewery Ltd Swan Brewery with its 300 public houses in 1925, Stretton's Derby Brewery Ltd with its 143 public houses in 1927, and Lichfield Brewery Co. Ltd with its 182 public houses in 1930. The pub estate increased dramatically over a relatively short period of time.

Lager Production Transferred to Alloa

Calder's other major decision was to close Allsopp's lager brewery, which had been damaged by fire in 1916 and was not rebuilt, and transfer all lager production to Scotland. This led to the purchase of Archibald Arrol & Sons Ltd of Alloa in 1930 which traded until 1998.
By the beginning of the 1930s the Company was once again on a sound footing.

Ind Coope & Allsopp Ltd

In 1934 Samuel Allsopp & Sons Ltd amalgamated with Ind Coope and Co. Ltd, its neighbour in Burton-on-Trent.
Effectively the deal was an Ind Coope & Co. Ltd takeover and Samuel Allsopp & Sons Ltd ceased to trade.
All its properties and the bulk of the assets were acquired by the new Company Ind Coope & Allsopp Ltd.
The Red Hand trade mark was adopted by the new Company and this survived until the late 1990s.
In 1938, the fire damaged High Street lager brewery was mostly demolished, although part of the building was used by a shoe manufacturer until 1979 when it was purchased by Bass, Ratcliff & Gretton Ltd, and new offices were built.
The Allsopps name was removed from Ind Coope & Allsopp Ltd in 1959 when it was simplified to Ind Coope Ltd.
Allied Breweries Ltd ceased to brew at Allsopp's New Brewery on Station Street in the 1970s, although some buildings are still standing and used for offices, housing, and by Molson-Coors Brewing (UK) Ltd.
All of Allsopp's Shobnall maltings were closed by Allied-Lyons plc in 1982.