Holden’s Brewery Ltd Small Round Tin

Holden's Brewery Ltd tin tray dating from the 1970s.

From Humble Beginnings

The Holden family business was founded in 1915 when Edwin and Lucy Holden purchased the Park Inn, based in Woodsetton, from Atkinson's Brewery Ltd, which had a malthouse at the rear of the premises.
Edwin died in 1920 aged 45 years old, leaving Lucy as licensee of the Park Inn.
Lucy acquired the freehold of the Painters Arms in Coseley as a present for her son, Teddy, in 1928.
Despite her blindness in later years, Lucy held the licence for the Park Inn until her death in 1938.
By now, Teddy was brewing at the Park Inn aided by his future wife, Clara, and supported by Harry Field who jointly held the Painters Arm licence.
In 1939 the Holden family purchased Atkinson's malthouse and installed new brewing equipment.
During the Second World War both Teddy and Harry Field, brewed beer for the loacl RAF airfield, and a third public house, the New Inn in Coseley, was added to the estate in 1944.
A separate bottling Company was formed by Clara Holden's brothers, Samuel and Wilfred Hammond, at the rear of the Park Inn, in 1945.
Here, bottling was completed for both Holden's own range of beers, and also national brews for distribution to clubs, free houses and wholesalers.
The Hammonds joined the Holdens as directors of the business.

Still Trading Independently

In 1945 Edwin Holden was born to Teddy and Clara.
Five more public houses were purchased by Teddy in the 1940s, and this strategy of slowly expanding the pub portfolio has continued to date.
Under the guidance of Samuel Hammond, a new enlarged brewery was built in 1961,to replace the old brewery which had been extended periodically.
The Company was registered in 1964, and the name changed to Holden's Brewery Ltd, Hopden Brewery, Woodsetton.
Samuel Hammond died unexpectedly in 1966.
In 2012 the Company began a major expansion of the brewery including a visitor centre.
The Hopden Brewery, is still brewing independently, and is run by the fourth generation of the Holden family.
The estate totals 18 public houses.