Brampton Brewery Co. Ltd Round Black Backed Steel

Brampton Brewery Co. Ltd black backed steel tray dating from 1937.

The Early Years

The year of foundation is unclear, although evidence suggests that a brewery was operating on the site in 1839.
The Brampton Brewery was located between Chatsworth Road and Wheatbridge Road in Chesterfield.
Its first owners were Messers. Parkin and Bennison, with Parkin as the senior partner. As 'Brewers and Maltsters', the firm traded as Parkin & Co.
In the early years there were numerous purchasers, often partnerships, with the Company name changing with each new owner.
The business, consisting of the brewery, together with 53 public houses, was purchased at auction by C.H.Charter & Co. in 1877.
Charter started to expand the business, and in 1879, he re-arranged all the plant and enlarged the brewery.
In 1889, when the business had been trading as C.H.Chater & Co., the senior partner Charter withdrew, leaving his junior partner, Harold Soames, as the sole proprietor.
In the 1890s, the firm traded successfully as the Brampton Brewery Co., with a bottling plant, and a wine, spirit & cigar business added on the same site.
The brewery was connected to the Brampton branch line of the Midland Railway. Deliveries were made each morning, and this was co-ordinated with the road to stop traffic.
When Soames retired in 1897 a Public Share Issue was raised to purchase it from him.

Brampton Brewery Co. Ltd Post Registration

The firm was registered as the Brampton Brewery Co. Ltd, with 142 public houses, 10 shops, 143 cottages, and vacant plots of land.
The new Company expanded rapidly, increasingly brewing capacity on an annual basis until disaster struck in 1902, when fire destroyed the brewhouse. Serious disruption to its brewing operations followed.
A new brewery was built on adjacent land and was fully operational by 1905, the first electrically driven brewery in the country.
With the new brewery functioning well, attention was turned on rebuilding or drastically improving its public houses. The Company's profits began to rise again.
The old brewery buildings were used for bottling, stores, and workshops.
The business continued to prosper even through the restrictions and shortages of two World Wars, now turning its efforts on rebuilding, or refurbishing, the pubs in its estate.
As well as brewing and bottling its own Golden Bud and Brampton Ale, the firm also bottled beers for Worthington & Co. Ltd, and Arthur Guinness, Son & Co. Ltd.
The Company's 'Arm with a Hammer' trade mark was registered in 1907. The hammer was a brick hammer used by a local trade. Its motto was 'Health and; Strength'.

Brampton's Closure

Brampton's demise resulted after the death of its Chairman, U.H.Tristram.
Tristram was the stabilzing factor of the brewery, as within a week of his death, the firm was approached for a takeover.
Warwicks & Richardsons Ltd, which held seats on the Brampton Board of Directors, immediately made a takeover bid for the Company, with its 116 tied houses, which was accepted by a 90% majority, in 1955. Brewing ceased shortly afterwards.
Local drinkers fondly remember Brampton's for its draught mild, although it also brewed bitter, extra strong, and a range of bottled beers.
Locals disliked Warwick's beers to the point that a new ale named 'Impy' was brewed as an experiment. This did not work.
Nicolas & Co. Grocers from Sheffield, purchased the Brampton Brewery premises.
The site was demolished in 1984 and turned into a B&Q retail store.
A new Brampton Brewery, a micro brewery, was relaunched in Chesterfield in 2007.

The tray featured was one of many produced for breweries throughout Britain to commemorate the Coronation of King George VI in 1937.
The manufacturer's mark states - 'Hancor' Mitcham Made in England