James Aitken & Co. (Falkirk) Ltd Square Tin

James Aitken & Co. (Falkirk) Ltd tin tray dating fro the 1950s.

The Falkirk Brewery

The business was established by James Aitken in 1740.
The original brewery in Falkirk was located on the south side of Market Street to the west of Lint Riggs. In 1797 additional land purchased by the Aitkens on the north side of Market Street, became the main location for its Falkirk Brewery.
From 1823, trading as James Aitken & Co., James and Lauchlan Aitken were responsible for expanding the business.
In 1830 Aitkens took out a patent for a carbonic acid gas plant for the preservation of beer in a bottle, when bottled beer was relatively unknown. This was the main contributing factor towards the firm's sales in Scotland, the North of England, and in export markets, particularly Australia and India.
When James died in 1851 Lauchlan continued the business as sole partner until his own death in 1862.
The Company was left to Lauchlan's nephews John Aitken and William Hardie.
Aitkens famous letter 'A' trade mark was introduced in the 1860s.
After expansions to the Falkirk Brewery in 1866 and 1878 it was completely rebuilt between 1898 and 1900.
By the turn of the century Aitkens Strong Ale had gained a postive reputation throughout the central belt of Scotland.

James Aitken & Co. (Falkirk) Ltd Registration

In 1900 the Company was registered as James Aitken & Co. (Falkirk) Ltd to acquire the business of James Aitken & Co. with its Falkirk Brewery. The Company's first Chairman was James Heugh Aitken.
Aitkens continued to expand and acquired Thomas Ireland's North Port Brewery of Brechin in 1910, George Storey & Co's Rothbury Brewery in 1911, and T.Y.Paterson & Co.Ltd Pentland Brewery of Edinburgh in 1936.
Aitken's reputation for quality beers was recognised in 1921 when it was awarded the Cup and a Gold Medal at the London International Brewers' Exhibition.
Despite its success at the Brewers' Exhibition, Aitkens, like many other breweries, struggled during the 1920s and 1930s, not helped by losses incurred after the purchase of the Brechin and Rothbury breweries. In addition, three of its employees who worked for the business in Dundee and Newcastle, committed fraud against Aitkens. A significant amount of money was stolen.
Thankfully the Company survived due mainly because of its reputation for quality ales.
The firm's carbonating and bottling plant, which had been purchased in 1910, was completely modernised in 1938.
A canning line was added in the late 1950s.

United Caledonian Breweries Ltd Takeover

The Company was acquired by United Caledonian Breweries Ltd, the Scottish arm of Northern Breweries of Great Britain Ltd, in 1960.
The firm employed over 200 workers at the time it was taken over.
The Falkirk Brewery was closed in 1966 and a supermarket was built on the site in 1970.
The Aitken name was revived briefly by Bass plc in the 1990s.

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