Charles Thorn
Charles Thomas Thorn, Crown Public House & Brewery, Lodge Road, Messing, Essex.
First listed as brewing in 1839.
Around 1892 Thorn formed a partnership, Charles Thomas Thorn & Co, at Tiptree, and brewing presumably ceased here.
From ESSEX BREWERS - The Malting and Hop Industries of the County by Ian P Peaty 1992 now out of print ISBN 978 1 873966 02 4
Charles Thomas Thorn commenced his brewing at the Crown public house, being first listed in 1839 also in 1886 as family ale and porter brewer.
In 1892 he sold out to his new partnership company of Charles Thomas Thorn & Co, Tiptree Heath Brewery, to which he presumably then devoted all his attentions.
The Crown public house was purchased by T D Ridley & Sons Ltd on 24th June, 1920, from Charles Brown & Sons Ltd, Hatfield Peverel Brewery, for £1,800, but other than a few old outbuildings, there appear to be no signs of the previous home-brew activity. On the front facade there is an intricate entwined date reading 1885 and a monogram.