Brickwoods Ltd Small Rectangular Tin

Brickwoods Ltd tin tray dating from the early 1970s.

From the Cobden Arms Brewery to the Portsmouth Brewery

The origins of the Cobden Arms Brewery in Landport, date back to 1823.
When Fanny Brickwood purchased the Cobden Arms Brewery in 1851, it started the Brickwoods family involvement with the brewing industry for the next 120 years.
In 1875 Fanny's grandsons, John and Arthur Brickwood, took charge of the business.
In 1880 they moved to the Hyde Park Brewery, on Hyde Park Road in Southsea, which had been founded by Henry Bransbury in 1851.
In 1887 the firm moved again when John and Arthur purchased the Portsmouth Brewery of Tessier & Co. on Penny Street, which had been founded in 1793.
The Company was registered as Brickwood & Co. Ltd in 1891.
Bottled beers were added to Brickwood's range of draught ales in the 1890s.
The firm then purchased Dormer Jewell & Son's Catherine Brewery, on Catherine Row, Portsea, in 1899.
It was rebuilt as the Portsmouth Brewery, transferring all brewing from Tessier's old brewery in 1902.

Brickwoods Expands through Acquisition in the 20th Century

Before World War I, Brickwoods purchased two local businesses, the Lion Brewery (Portsmouth) Ltd, and Pike, Spicer & Co. Ltd, with over 100 public houses, both in 1910.
However, it was in the 1920s when its expansion was most rapid, with a further seven breweries taken over by Brickwoods.
These included James Garland Duffett on the Isle of Wight in 1921, Perkins & Sons Ltd of Southampton in 1925, Forder & Co. Ltd of Southampton, with 23 public houses, in 1925, Blake & Co. of Gosport in 1926, Aldridge & Sons of Southampton, with 50 public houses, in 1927, Sprake Brothers, with 6 tied houses on the Isle of Wight, in 1928, and finally, Barlow & Co. Ltd of Southampton, with 46 public houses, in 1929.
Most of the breweries were closed down immediately, however bottling continued at Aldridge's until 1968.
Before World War II the Company made only one further purchase in 1933, that of Long & Co. Ltd based in Southsea.

Post World War II Trading and Takeover

One other brewery was acquired in 1952, that of Amey's Brewery Ltd based in Petersfield, until local dominance was achieved by Brickwoods in 1953, when it purchased Portsmouth & Brighton United Breweries Ltd, with 271 public houses.
The name of the Company was shortened from Brickwood & Co. Ltd, to Brickwoods Ltd in 1953.
The Elm Brewery of Portsmouth & United Breweries Ltd continued brewing in Southsea until 1962, when it was converted into a mineral water factory and operated as part of Brickwoods.
The Company entered into a significant agreement with Whitbread & Co. Ltd in 1951 to sell a selection of each other's beers, later proving to be the first stages of an eventual acquisition.
By 1960, two Whitbread directors were also part of Brickwood's board of directors, and by 1966 Whitbread Tankard was being brewed at the Portsmouth Brewery.
The Company was eventually acquired by Whitbread & Co. Ltd in 1971, and Brickwoods became part of Whitbread Wessex Ltd.
Brewing ceased at the Portsmouth Brewery in 1983, and the site was demolished in 1990.
The brand names of Brickwoods beers were changed to Whitbread Trophy and Pompey Royal.

The manufacturer's mark states - Hancock Corfield & Waller Ltd, Mitcham.London.