John Jeffrey & Co. Rectangular Black Backed Steel

John Jeffrey & Co. black backed steel tray dating from the 1920s.

The Foundation of Jeffrey's Brewing Business

A brewery was reputedly operating at Heriot Bridge in the Grassmarket in Edinburgh in the 16th century.
By 1800 Baillie Gordon owned the brewery.
After a number of further owners, the original Heriot Brewery was purchased by John Jeffrey and his younger brother David, in 1837.
The business traded as John Jeffrey & Co.
The Grassmarket site soon became cramped and land was purchased at Roseburn in 1865, where a new maltings, store, and cooperage were built.
A new brewhouse was added to the Roseburn site in 1880.
The Company's famous Castle trade mark was registered in 1887.
The old Heriot Brewery continued brewing until 1900 when the site was sold to the Heriot-Watt College.

Lager Pioneers

The firm was one of the pioneers of lager production in Scotland supplying a large export trade to many countries worldwide.
Jeffrey's also owned a number of public houses in Scotland and the North of England.
The Company was registered as John Jeffrey & Co. Ltd in 1934.
Jeffrey's acquired Edinburgh United Breweries Ltd in 1935.
In addition to its own beers, from 1951 Jeffrey's supplied ales and stouts to James Calder & Co. (Brewers) Ltd.
Continued favourable trading enabled a new bottling plant to be built at Sighthill in Edinburgh, in 1955.
John Jeffrey & Co. Ltd became a public company in 1958.

The Formation of Northern Breweries Ltd

In 1960 the business merged with Hammond's United Breweries Ltd and Hope & Anchor Breweries Ltd to form Northern Breweries Ltd, later named Northern Breweries of Great Britain Ltd.
Northern Breweries of Great Britain Ltd became United Breweries Ltd in 1961. When John Aitchison & Co. Ltd was taken over in 1961 Aitchison Jeffrey Ltd was formed as a subsidiary of United Breweries Ltd. Operations ceased immediately at Aitchison's brewery and all production was concentrated at Jeffrey's Heriot Brewery.
United Breweries Ltd merged with Charrington & Co. Ltd in 1964, to form Charrington United Breweries Ltd.
Charrington United Breweries Ltd merged with Bass, Mitchells & Butlers Ltd in 1967 to create Bass Charrington Ltd.
The Heriot Brewery continued brewing until 1992 when it was closed by Bass plc.

The manufacturer's mark states - B.A.T.Co. Ltd Smethwick. 3779