Alton & Co. Ltd

Messrs. Alton & Co. Ltd., New (Wardwick) Brewery and Maltings, Derby. Brewers’ Journal 15th March 1900

An advert from 1860.

An advert from 1852.

Alton & Co. Ltd, Wardwick Brewery, 15 Wardwick, Derby, Derbyshire.

Founded by Thomas Lowe 1788. Registered 1888 and a new company was registered in July 1899 with 91 public houses.

Acquired by Stretton's Derby Brewery Ltd. January 1903 with 154 tied houses.

Brewery not closed until 1922 as it was run as a separate concern.

From John Arguile Local press reported that the Wardwick Brewery was built on the old portion of the brewery premises of Messrs John and Samuel Crompton in 1788. It came into the Alton family in 1869, the last (brewery) member of which, Mr Hepworth T Alton, by then Managing Director, died in November 1903. At the time he was staying at the Langham Hotel in London where he suffered from a seizure. He had been a director of the firm since 1888 and was just 45 years of age.

Strettons Derby Brewery purchased the company later that same month. Brewing had ceased by 1922 when the brewery, which was set back behind the offices, but not the offices, were purchased by the Post Office to make way for a new telephone exchange. Allied retained the offices as a local base for Ind Coope (East Midlands) until turning the offices into the Wardwick Tavern.

As well as the brewery behind the offices at 15 Wardwick - amply described in Barnard, they had premises on Colyer Street and extensive maltings both in Derby and at Castle Donington (Leics). An architectural drawing (see opposite) suggests that it was an extensive brewery.

A further plant existed on Ashbourne Road, this being the brewery formerly owned by Messrs Weall Brothers and purchased in 1895 along with 7 public houses. At this point Alton & Co were growing rapidly, it purchased a further 6 pubs that year.

List of Alton & Co Ltd pubs

The brewery features in The Noted Breweries of Great Britain and Ireland by Alfred Barnard published 1890.

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Entry in the Trade Mark Registry Registration No  : 341,895 Description  : Label design for Meynell Hunt whisky Date of Application  : 14/04/1912 Used Prior to 1875?  : NO Registration No  : 423,966 Description  : Gin label Date of Application  : 02/03/1922 Used Prior to 1875?  : used from 10th August 1888 Registration No  : 423,967 Description  : Words "BUCK IN THE PARK" Date of Application  : 02/03/1922 Used Prior to 1875?  : NO Registration No  : 423,968 Description  : TM for mineral waters Date of Application  : 02/03/1922 Used Prior to 1875?  : NO