George Gale & Co. Ltd Round Tin

George Gale & Co. Ltd tin tray dating from the 1950s.

Gale's Foundation

The brewery was founded by Richard Gale when he acquired the Ship & Bell home brew house at Horndean, in 1847.
In 1853 Richard's fourth son, George Alexander Gale, took over the Ship & Bell and began to expand the business. The Ship & Bell was noted for its fine ales.
As demand outstripped supply, a new brewery was built opposite the same site. In addition, new maltings were added in 1859.
Unfortunately the brewery was destroyed by fire in the early 1860s, resulting in the completion of a new Victorian brewery close to the same site, in 1869.
In 1884 William Smeed joined the business resulting in Gales acquisition of the Eagle Brewery in Landport, near Portsmouth.
The Company, was registered as George Gale & Co. Ltd in 1888.
Shortly after its registration, Herbert Frederick Bowyer purchased a major shareholding from George Gale, and by 1897 he was its Chairman, where he remained in the role until 1938, until his son, Squadron Leader Frederick Hugh Bowyer, inherited the post until his death in 1982.
Whilst business had increased steadily until that time, the Bowyer family injected significant capital and growth proved more dramatic.

Significant Growth in the 20th Century

Gales acquired a number of Hampshire and West Sussex breweries between 1903 and 1929 which increased its estate significantly.
The Company acquired Samuel Clarke's Homewell Brewery of Havant in 1903, Weeks & Co. Square Brewery of Petersfield in 1907, the Wickham Brewery Co. Ltd in 1912, and Parker & Popplewell's Angel Brewery of Midhurst in 1923. Its final purchase was the Eastgate Brewery based in Chichester in 1929.
The acquistions included over 100 public houses.
The quality of Gales ales was undeniable with the Company having been awarded brewing medals in 1902, 1904, 1906, 1908, 1921, 1923, 1924, and 1925. These were all surpassed when it won the prestigious Champion Gold Medal & Diploma, and Champion Challenge Cup Diploma, at the Brewers' Exhibition, along with other brewing medals in 1926.
In 1959 Head Brewer, Ted Argyle, introduced HSB to Gale's portfolio of beers. He later became Chairman of the Company.
By the end of the 1970s it became increasingly clear that the Company required more capacity and the decision was made to extend the existing brewery. The upgraded brewery was officially opened in 1984.
Despite many years of growth, due to rising costs and red tape, Gale's management decided to sell the business.
The family owned brewery, and its public houses, was purchased by Fuller, Smith & Turner Ltd in 2005 and all brewing was transferred to Chiswick.
The brewery closed in 2006.
Gales HSB, Prize Old Ale, and Seafarer's Bitter are still brewed by Fullers in Chiswick.

The manufacturer's mark states - Reginald Corfield Ltd Lombard Road. London. S.W.19.

The video below brings the history of Gales brewery to ilfe. How sad that it is no more!