Drink Up! - Thematic Photography

Finding something to post for Carmi's theme this week was driving me to drink until I found this:

Tankard finds new use as receptacle for pens

This tankard commemorating brewery tradition usually sits on the bottom shelf of my desk unit and as you can see it has acquired a new use.

The six breweries on it had '"Together 1000 years of Brewing Tradition." Alas many of them are no longer in existence - the victims of takeovers and demolition,

In the 1800s Edinburgh was known as 'Auld Reekie' due the number of breweries in the city.

Lorimer & Clark, Edinburgh

In 1869 George Lorimer and Robert Clarke opened the Caledonian Brewery. In 1919 it was taken over by Vaux Breweries in Sunderland but fortunately was subject to a management buy-out in 1987.

The second badge on the tankard hails from Belgium.

Liefmans, Oudenaarde, Belgium

Liefmans has been one of Belgium's cult breweries since 1679.

But Belgium is not the only country outside the UK to figure on the tankard.

Fred Koch Brewery, New York State

Fred Koch Brewery produced beer and ale in Dunkirk, New York  from the late 1880s to 1985. 

We are back in England for the last three firms on the tankard, all linked together in the story of their demise.

Vaux Brewery,  Sunderland

The Vaux family had been involved in the brewery business since 1806 but Vaux did not establish their own brewery until 1837. The first Vaux brewery was named after the founder Cuthbert Vaux, C. Vaux & Co. and would become one of Sunderland's most successful businesses.

By the 1990s the Vaux Group had expanded into hotels. Despite the brewing business being profitable and an offer to buy it having been received from management, in March 1999 the Board closed both its Sundeland breweries. The brewery was later demolished.

Vaux also figured in the demise of our next famous brewery.

Wards Sheaf Brewery, Sheffield

In 1837, William Roper and John Kiby started a brewery on Effingham Street. Roper died in 1842 leaving John Kiby in sole control. Septimus Henry Ward joined the company in 1868 when it ran into financial trouble. Due to the substantial amount he invested the primary brand was renamed Wards Best Bitter. . The business continued to expand buying up other breweries. In 1876 they bought the SOHO Brewery and made it their main premises, renaming it to Sheaf Brewery. It was made a limited company called S.H. Wards & Company Limited in 1896.

In 1972 the company was acquired by Vaux and continued to brew bitter as a subsidiary. Despite still being profitable the brewery was closed in 1999 as the Vaux company was broken up. The land was sold to developers who demolished most of it to make way for apartments. Ironically, it was revealed later that the price achieved was several £million less than the buyout that would have saved this much-loved brewer.

Darley's, Thorne, Doncaster

 

The Darley family were closely connected with the town of Thorne for many generations.  W.M. Darley operated a small firm with a few pubs in and around Thorne. His son, C.W. Darley assumed control of the firm in 1892 on the death of his father, when the brewery was enlarged and improved. The brewery remained in the family until October 1978 when it was acquired by Vaux Breweries of Sunderland. Brewing continued until 1986 when the brewery was closed and production transferred to Wards Brewery in Sheffield, also part of the Vaux group. And you know what happened to them.

If you haven't drunk up by now then I suggest you visit the other drinkers at Carmi's Thematic Photographic 170