Russell’s Gravesend Brewery Ltd Oval Black Backed Steel

Russell's Gravesend Brewery Ltd black backed steel tray dating from the 1900s.

The Shrimp Brand

William Plane was operating at the brewery before 1841. The business traded as Plane & Heathorn until the brewery and wharf were acquired by the Russell family in 1858 with 22 public houses.
The Company was registered as Russell's Gravesend Brewery Ltd in 1893.
The Company's shrimp trade mark was registered in 1898.

Expansion By Acquisitions

The business expanded quickly and it acquired the Fort Brewery owned by Webb & Co.'s of Margate in 1897, the Writtle Brewery of the Writtle Brewery Co. Ltd with 37 public houses in 1901, George Wood & Sons Ltd Gravesend Brewery in 1907, and James Fleet's brewery of Ramsgate with 9 public houses in 1919.
The Company's estate totalled 135 public houses after the First World War.

Truman, Hanbury, Buxton & Co. Ltd

The brewery was acquired by Truman, Hanbury, Buxton & Co. Ltd with 223 tied houses in 1930.
The premises were used for decades as a bottling plant but the buildings and equipment were sold in 1935.
Truman's replaced Russell's shrimp trade mark with its own eagle trademark.
Some of the brewery buildings remain as private dwellings.

The manufacturer's mark states - Hancor, Mitcham. 1.1/2M.F.U.A/R