Smith & Co. (Oundle) Ltd Round Black Backed Steel

Smith & Co. (Oundle) Ltd black backed tray dating from the 1930s.

Foundation of the North Street Brewery

The North Street Brewery in Oundle, was founded by John Smith,a farmer from Stoke Doyle, in 1775.
The brewery supplied beer to French Prisoner of War Camps at Norman Cross near Peterborough, between 1798 and 1800.
In the early 19th century John Smith was succeeded by his son, also named John Smith, who grew the business substantially.
John's brother Thomas was in charge of brewing.
The Smith family became very wealthy and they owned the largest houses in Oundle.

Smith & Tibbitts Partnership

In 1837 John's nephew, Richard Tibbitts joined the partnership. They traded as Smith & Tibbitts 'Brewers, Maltsters, Timber & Coal Merchants'.
In 1843, John's son, John William Simth, became a partner in the business, and when his father died the following year his brother, Herbert Staples Smith, was also taken into the partnership.
In 1853, the two Smith brothers purchased the Oundle Union Brewery and immediately closed it down.
Richard Tibbitts died in 1860 and his holding in Smith & Tibbitts was sold to the Smith brothers.

Outright Ownership by the Smiths

When John William Smith died in 1897 he was the sole proprietor of the firm. His son John Hume Smith was managing the brewery and he then purchased the business.
In 1901 the brewery was awarded Champion Prize at a brewer's competition as recognition for the quality of its ales.
John Hume Smith ran the business until his death in 1916 when his widow, Mary Smith, took over. Michael, their son, had been killed in action during the Great War.
Basil Ludlow, who had joined as Smith's manager in 1900, became a partner in the early 1920s.
When he died in 1934 he was succeeded by his son Guy Ludlow.

Smith & Co. (Oundle) Ltd Registration & Takeover

The Company, with its brewery, maltings and 85 licensed houses, was incorporated as Smith & Co. (Oundle) Ltd in 1935.
Malting ceased in 1947, and in 1955 the Company was acquired by Warwicks & Richardsons Ltd of Newark.
The new owners introduced Smith's beers into the Yorkshire mining areas with great success and the Oundle Brewery was soon brewing to capacity.
In 1962 Warwick's & Richardsons Ltd was taken over by John Smith's Tadcaster Brewery Co Ltd and all production was transferred to Newark.
The North Street Brewery ceased brewing in September 1962.
The site continued as a distribution depot until it was sold to the Welland and Nene River Authority in 1966 for stores and offices.
The site was developed for housing in the mid-1980s.

The manufacturer's mark states - Reginald Corfield Ltd Lombard Road London S.W.19. 5411.