Harman’s Uxbridge Brewery Ltd Square Tin

Harman's Uxbridge Brewery Ltd tin tray dating from the 1950s.

The Early Years of the Harman Brewery Business

1763 is the year that the Company recognised its foundation. Brewing started at the Crown & Treaty public house on Oxford Road in Uxbridge.
George Harman was a brewer and maltster in Uxbridge, and when he died aged 46, in 1744, it was his descendants who formed the Company.
In 1876 a disastrous fire at the brewery forced the family to lease the Shackles Brewery at 180 High Street, in Uxbridge.
The freehold was purchased in 1887, and the brewery remained its main site from then onwards.

The Old Hornchurch Brewery

Meanwhile, on the other side of London, the Old Hornchurch Brewery, which had been founded in 1789, was put up for sale, with 36 public houses, in 1892.
It ended up being purchased by Philip Ronayne Conran in 1892, who passed it on to his sons, Philip and Stanislaus Ronayne. Philip died in 1895, leaving Stanislaus Ronayne in control with Miss Julia Mary Monica Percival.
At the turn of the century, the Old Hornchurch Brewery business was at its peak, employing over 60 staff.

The Stanislaus Ronayne Conran Connection

In 1914 S.R.Conran acquired an interest in Harman's Uxbridge Brewery.
Conran's Hornchurch Brewery acquired Fielder & Co. of Brentwood in Essex, in 1923.
Both businesses continued to trade separately on either side of London, until they merged in 1924.
That year, the Company was registered as Harman's Uxbridge Brewery Ltd, to acquire the brewery of S.R.Conran of Hornchurch, and the Uxbridge Brewery, which he jointly owned, with Alice F.Webb.
The Hornchuch brewery, with 38 public houses, was sold to Mann, Crossman & Paulin Ltd in 1925.
It continued brewing until 1929.
R.Halley Ltd, based in Slough, was acquired by Harman's in 1954.
The Old Brewery in Uxbridge, with 83 public houses and 5 off-licences, was acquired by Courage, Barclay, Simonds & Co. Ltd, in 1962.
Brewing ceased at Halley's Slough brewery in 1963, and at Harman's Old Brewery in 1964.
The 'Final Brew', an ale to mark its closure, was produced in Uxbridge, in April 1964.
The Company was liquidated in 1967.