George Beer & Rigden Ltd Round Black Backed Steel

George Beer & Rigden Ltd black backed tray dating from 1937.

George Beer & Co Ltd - Star Brewery - Canterbury

The business, which was established by George Beer in 1847.
The firm initially traded as Beer & Co., then as George Beer & Co., from the 1850s.
The Star Brewery, as it became named around the 1860s, was built against the city wall and was located on Broad Street, Canterbury.
The Star trade mark was first used around 1864, and was officially registered in 1884.
The firm was sold by George Beer to Willliam Chapman, Stanley Lound, and Francis Oliver, in 1883, although it continued to trade as George Beer & Co.
The Company, with 121 public houses, was registered as George Beer & Co. Ltd in 1919.

W.E & J.Rigden Ltd - Faversham

The Rigden business, on the other hand, was founded by Edward Rigden in the 1720s.
By the the time William and John Rigden became owners in 1871, the business had outgrown the old brewery. They extended and redeveloped the brewery on Court Street in Faversham from 1872 until 1887. A complete new set of brewery buildings were constructed including workshops and stables.
The business traded as William Edward & John Rigden until its registration.
The Company, with 123 public houses, was registered as W.E. & J.Rigden Ltd in 1902.

Beer & Rigden Ltd

W.E.& J.Rigden Ltd merged with George Beer & Co. Ltd in 1922 to form George Beer & Rigden.
The Company did not become 'Limited' in 1927.
All brewing was concentrated at Rigden's Faversham brewery, resulting in the closure of Beer's Star Brewery in Canterbury, which was eventually demolished in 1936.
The Company's motto was 'Kent's Best'.
The Company was acquired by Fremlins Ltd in 1948, and brewing ceased in 1954.
Brewing was recommenced by Fremlins Ltd in 1961.
Fremlins Ltd was acquired by Whitbread & Co. Ltd in 1967, and brewing was continued under its ownership at the Rigden's brewery in Faversham until 1990.
In 1995 the old malthouse was converted into a supermarket. The stables, bottling plant and mineral water factory were demolished.
The brewhouse was converted into apartments in 2011. The brewery offices were modernised and continued to be used as commercial offices.

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