Warwicks & Richardsons Ltd Oval Black Backed Steel

Warwicks & Richardsons Ltd black backed steel tray dating from the 1900s.

Background

In 1890 Richard Warwick & Sons Ltd and Richardson, Earp & Slater, both based in Newark-on-Trent, merged to form Warwicks & Richardsons Ltd.
The history of the two companies before and after the merger is described below.

Origins of the Warwick Business - The Town Wharf Brewery

The Town Wharf Brewery was founded by Samuel Sketchley in Newark on Trent in 1766. He leased it from the Duke of Newcastle.
Samuel Sketchley was joined by banker William Handley in the 1770s. The partnership traded as Handley & Sketchley.
In 1798 Handley died, while Sketchley retired in 1800.
Benjamin Handley and William Farnsworth Handley, who had both joined the firm in 1801, were in full control by 1808.
Richard Warwick, who worked as the firm's brewery manager, saw the potential of the run down Town Wharf Brewery and purchased it in 1856.
He was joined in partnership by his eldest son, William Deeping Warwick, and they traded as Richard Warwick & Son.
In 1872 Richard's second son, Richard Huskinson Warwick joined the firm which the traded as Richard Warwick & Sons.

The Northgate Brewery

In 1863 Richard had purchased land on Northgate in Newark upon which he built a small malting. In 1871 he moved his brewing operations to Northgate, which had good raliway connections, and the first brew was produced in September 1872.
The Town Wharf Brewery was closed.
In 1883 Richard Warwick & Sons registered its Napolean III silver medal trade mark, which it had won in 1866, as its trade mark.
Richard Warwick died in 1877 leaving William Deeping Warwick as the firm's senior partner.
In 1888 another of Richard's sons joined as a partner, and the Company was registered as Richard Warwick & Sons Ltd.

Origins of the Richardson Business - The Trent (Formely Victoria) Brewery

A brewery on the banks of the River Trent was established in 1802.
The Victoria Brewery had successive owners.
The partnership of Richardson, Earp & Slater became owners of the brewery in 1857.
By 1880 Joseph and Charles Richardson were the sole owners of the newly named Trent Brewery, with James Richardson as its head brewer.

Richard Warwick & Sons Ltd Merger with Richardson, Earp & Slater

In 1889 the Richardsons sold their interest in the Trent Brewery on Millgate to Richard Warwick & Sons.
In 1890 the Companies were merged to form Warwicks & Richardsons Ltd.
The Trent Brewery trade mark depicting the Newark coat of arms was adopted by the new firm.
At the time of the amalgamation Warwick's & Richardson's employed 133 people.
The Trent Brewery was closed when all production was transferred to the Northgate Brewery. The Trent Brewery buildings were demolished in 1952.
The newly formed Company was quick to expand and in 1892 it acquired Henry Jessop's Rutland Brewery, the Cromwell Brewery of Newark & Sheffield Breweries Ltd, and the Albion Brewery of McGeorge & Heppenstalls Ltd, all based in Newark on Trent.
Acquisitions continued apace and in 1897 the Company purchased the Plant Brewery of Alfred M.Eadon & Co. Ltd of Doncaster with 16 public houses, and Thomas Stones' Home Brewery of Peterborough with 12 public houses.

20th Century Trading

After the turn of the 20th century Warwick's acquired Morris' Rutland Brewery Ltd of Oakham with 19 public houses in 1905, the Alma Brewery of Robert Brassey Jones of Cambridge in 1911, and it merged with Goodwin Brothers Ltd of Newark on Trent in 1919.
It was not until 1955 when the Company made its final purchases, acquiring Smith & Co. (Oundle) Ltd with 83 public houses, and the Brampton Brewery Co. Ltd of Chesterfield with 142 public houses.

John Smiths Tadcaster Brewery Co. Ltd Takeover

Warwick's & Richardsons Ltd was acquired by John Smiths Tadcaster Brewery Co. Ltd in 1962 and brewing ceased in 1966.
Most of the Northgate Brewery and Maltings are still standing. Some have been converted into luxury flats.

The maufacturer's mark is highly unusual in that it states - B.A.T.Co Ltd Smethwick inside a cricket bat. The number D10 is printed outside of the bat.