Higgins & Sons Ltd Ceramic Coaster

Higgins & Sons Ltd ceramic matchstriker dating from the 1900s.

Foundation of the Castle Brewery

Charles Higgins was the proprietor of the Swan Hotel who founded the Castle Brewery on Castle Lane in Bedford.
The brewery was built in 1838 and Charles also built his family home next to it in 1842.
Charles and his son George ran the brewery until Charles's death in 1862.
Charles's second son, Lawrence, ran the brewery after that, registering the business in 1902.
The Castle trade mark was registered in 1907 and the Castle Brewery was purchased from the Duke of Bedford by Lawrence and Charles's youngest son, Cecil, in 1908.

Wells & Winch Ltd Takeover

Cecil was given the responsibility of running the brewery which remained in the Higgins family until 1928 when it was purchased with 55 public houses by Wells & Winch Ltd of Biggleswade.
The brewery became Benett's Clothing factory for a time and during the Second World War it manufactured shirts for the military.
Later the buildings became a postal sorting office but after this it closed in the 1960s.
The building fell into disrepair.
Fortunately Bedford Borough Council renovated the site which became an art gallery and museum in 1981.

The manufacturer's mark states - James Green & Nephew London Designers & Manufacturer's of Advertising Specialities