Mansfield Brewery Co. Ltd Square Tin

Mansfield Brewery Co. Ltd tin tray dating from 1965.

Foundation of the Mansfield Brewery

In 1855 the brewery was established in Littleworth, Mansfield, by brewer John Watson of Sheffield, farmer Samuel Hage of Ollerton, and investor William Edward Baily of Mansfield.
The firm began trading as William Baily & Company.
In 1856 John Watson sold his shares to the other two partners who traded as Baily & Hage. They established a malting facility in 1863 to support the business.
In 1873 Addison Titley bought into the business which traded as Hage & Titley. The firm owned 19 public houses.
In 1878 Addison Titley, William Baily and his uncle, John Baily, formed Titley, Baily & Baily.
Titley retired in 1885, leaving William Baily. H.S.Shacklock, William Jackson Chadburn, and James Handley Hopwell as partners.
William Chadburn became the dominant partner, and by 1901 the firm leased 72 licensed premises including public houses, hotels, and off licences.
In that year, E.A.Titley and Walter Titley, joined the partnership.
Around that time, the Company introduced one of it most well-known ales, 'Golden Drop'.
The original brewery was re-built in 1907 significantly increasing its capacity.
In 1910 Francis Ludlow and Claude Chadburn became partners.

The Mansfield Brewery Company Ltd Registration

After the First World War, S.C.Deakin became its head brewer and it was he who gave the firm a reputation for brewing quality ales.
In 1925 the Company was registered as The Mansfield Brewery Company Ltd.
After acquiring the Chesterfield Brewery Co. Ltd in 1934 with 100 public houses, the Company became publicly listed on the Stock Exchange.
After the Second World War the business continued to grow and from 1972 through to 1982 its focus became keg beers with no real ale produced during that time.
By 1977 Mansfield Brewery Co. Ltd owned 181 public houses.
In 1982 the Company became Mansfield Brewery plc.
A new brewhouse and bottling stores were added in 1984.
North Country Breweries Ltd of Hull, with 212 public houses, was acquired in 1985, and by 1987 the Company was operating a total of 420 licensed premises.

Wolverhampton & Dudley Breweries Ltd Takeover

In 1999 the Company, with over 400 public houses, was taken over by Wolverhampton & Dudley Breweries Ltd, which moved production to its Park Brewery in Wolverhampton.
The brewery in Mansfield was closed in 2002 and the site was demolished in 2008 for future redevelopment.

Although there is no manufacturer's mark I am certain that the tray was produced by Hancock Corfield & Waller and is actually the original production/sample copy.
On the back of the tray are the words - B2186 12.2.65 File Copy