Thornley Kelsey Ltd Round Tin

Thornley Kelsey Ltd tin tray dating from the 1960s.

Background

The Company was formed as a result of a merger between Benjamin Kelsey Ltd and H.E.Thornley Ltd in 1933 becoming Thornley Kelsey Ltd.

Benjamin Kelsey Ltd

Benjamin Kelsey Ltd was founded on the corner Henry Street and Ashted Row in Birmingham in 1859.
The firm also owned maltings on Windsor Street in Birmingham. The more dominant business, however, was that of H.E.Thornley Ltd.

H.E.Thornley Ltd

Henry Edward Thornley was originally a farmer, however by 1898 he had broadened his business interests and commenced brewing at his home, Radford Hall, in Leamington Spa.
In 1902 he built the four storey Gothic, baronial style, Radford Hall Brewery, at Radford Semele, and employed an agent, H.Bradshaw, in Leamington Spa.
The business traded as Thornley & Co., and was described as 'Brewers and Wine & Spirit Merchants'.
An impressive malt kiln was added to the brewery in 1911.
Thornley & Co.'s range of beers included, 'Diamond Pale Ale AK' and 'Mild Ale' in casks, and 'Special Dinner Ale', 'Special Pale Ale', and 'Nourishing Stout', in bottles.
These ales and stouts quickly gained a strong reputation, and with increasing sales the Company was able to acquire its first public houses.
Liked by the community, and well respected by his workforce, Henry died at Radford Hall, in 1916.
Ownership of the business was retained by the Thornley family.
In 1920 when trading as H.E.Thornley, one of its ales was awarded 'Champion Beer' at the Brewing & Allied Trades Exhibition.
In 1933 the Company was registered as H.E.Thornley Ltd.

Thornley Kelsey Ltd

After the Company was registered as H.E.Thornley Ltd in 1933, it merged with Benjamin Kelsey Ltd of Birmingham, to form Thornley Kelsey Ltd.
Most of Thornley Kelsey Ltd's brewing was concentrated at Leamington Spa.
The Company continued to produce quality beers and was awarded a Silver Medal at the Brewing Bottling and Allied Trades Exhibition held in London in 1960.
Kelsey's Henry Street Brewery closed in the early 1960s, whilst the Radford Hall Brewery continued to brew until 1968.
Most of the Company's 68 tied houses were sold to John Davenport & Sons Ltd.
The Radford Hall Brewery was demolished.