David Roberts & Sons Ltd Round Tin

David Roberts & Sons Ltd tin tray dating from the 1950s.

Foundation and Early Trading

The business was founded by David Roberts in Trefechan near Aberystwyth in Gwent, in 1844.
David used spring water from two wells on the site, and barley which he malted himself.
The Company merged with T.E.Issard & Co. of Newtown in 1890 to form the Montgomeryshire Brewery Co. Ltd. This business was liquidated in 1893.

David Roberts & Sons Ltd Registration

David Roberts continued run the brewery until 1897 when his sons, George Fossett Roberts and Henry Roberts, took over the firm.
A new Company was registered as David Roberts & Sons Ltd in 1897.
The name of the Company was changed to Robert's Brewery Ltd in 1935.
During the 1940s, the demand for beer by service men based in Aberystwyth increased the Company's profits enabling it to expand and sell its ales to other Welsh towns.
The business was liquidated again in 1941 and was re-registered as David Roberts & Sons Ltd in the same year.
The Company was also a bottler for Bass, Ratcliff & Gretton Ltd, Worthington & Co. Ltd, and Arthur Guinness, Son & Co. Ltd.
As a secondary business, Roberts was an ice manufacturer.

Final Decade of Trading

David Roberts & Sons Ltd acquired Facey & Son Ltd of Abergavenny in 1950 with 12 public houses. Brewing ceased there in 1960.
The Company was taken over by William Hancock & Co. Ltd in 1960 with 117 public houses. Brewing ceased but bottling continued until 1969 when William Hancock & Co. Ltd was taken over by Bass Charrington Ltd.
New premises were opened by Bass Charrington Ltd in 1974 for storage and distribution.

The manufacturer's mark states - The Metal Box Co. Ltd (Liverpool Branch)