Hewitt Brothers Ltd Round Alloy

Hewitt Brothers Ltd alloy tray dating from the 1950s.

Hewitt's Business Foundation

In 1806, a brewhouse and a malthouse were built by John Garnis, on land bounded by Pasture Street, East Street, and West Street, in Grimsby. John Garniss operated his brewing business there, until it was later purchased by John Hobson. John owned the brewery until his death in 1871.
William Taylor Hewitt, a grocer in the centre of Grimsby, and his brother, Thomas Hewitt, a brewer, in Doncaster, took over the lease of the brewery in 1871.
Their other two brothers, John Henry Hewitt, and Edwin Hewitt, were also brewers in Retford and Hull respectively.
In 1874, the brewery was sold to the partnership of William and Thomas.
Born in 1868, William's son, Thomas William Good Hewitt, joined the business in the 1880s.
Hewitt Brothers Co. was formed in 1885.
In 1888, the Company, with its Tower Brewery on Pasture Street, was registered as Hewitt Brothers Ltd.
The majority of the shareholding was held by founder, William Taylor Hewitt, brewer and Chairman, with a significant but smaller allocation, allocated to T.W.G.Hewitt, brewer and Company Secretary. Titus Henry, and Mary Elizabeth, William's other children also received a token amout of shares in the new firm.
After purchasing the business, William personally visited licensed houses in the Grimsby area, successfully persuading them to buy his beer, and the Company expanded quickly.

Hewitt's Expansion

Hewitt Brothers Ltd purchased Gale & Kennington's Humber Brewery of Grimsby, with 5 public houses, in 1892. This was its first acquisition, which Hewitt's used as a depot until the 1950s.
The Trent Brewery on Silver Street, in Gainsborough, was acquired around 1900.
When William died in 1902, Thomas William Good, took over as Managing Director, replicating his father's care and drive, enabling further growth in the business. Titus Hewitt was appointed a director, and T.Baumber was appointed cashier and secretary.
The Company purchased the Exchange Brewery of Doncaster, believed to be owned by Edwin Hewitt, in 1903, followed by the Cobwell Brewery of Retford, owned by John Henry Hewitt, in 1909.
After experiencing difficult times during the Great War, the Company acquired Norton & Turton of Lincoln, in 1922.
Hewitt Brothers Ltd became a public company in 1934.
During the 1930s, the Tower Brewery was constantly upgraded and expanded, as was the Company's retail estate.
In addition, Hewitt's successfully ran a separate wine & spirits business.
The Company was awarded second prize for its stout at the Brewers' Exhibition in 1936.
In 1937, a new bottling store was built in Upper Burgess Street, opposite the brewery.
By 1951, Hewitt Brothers Ltd owned 287 licensed premises.
In 1954, the Company purchased A.M & E.Sergeant Ltd, brewers and wine & spirit merchants, from Brigg. It continued operating there until 1967.

Hewitt's Loses its Independence

Hewitt Brothers Ltd had become a prime target for a takeover, and in 1959, Hart, Son & Co., London financiers, gained control of the business.
The Company did acquire one last brewer, that of Moors' & Robson's Breweries Ltd of Hull, with its Crown Brewery and 138 public houses, in 1960.
The brewery's independence ended when United Breweries Ltd became the largest shareholder, and acquired the Tower Brewery, with 320 public houses, in 1961.
United Breweries Ltd merged with Charrington & Co. Ltd, to form Charrington United Breweries Ltd, in 1962.
Charrington United Breweries Ltd subsequently merged with Bass, Mitchells & Butlers Ltd, to form Bass Charrington Ltd, in 1967.
Hewitt's Tower Brewery closed in 1968, soon after the Bass Charrington Ltd merger.
Most of the brewery buildings have been demolished either as a result of fire or by time. Only the barley store remains standing.

The maufacturer's mark states - 6 MB