Charles Wells Ltd

Ordnance Survey extract from 1924, showing the Horne Lane site. Reproduced with the permission of the National Library of Scotland (http://maps.nls.uk/index.html)

Letter head from the 1980s

Charles Wells Ltd, Eagle Brewery, Havelock Street, Bedford, Bedfordshire

The original brewery in Horne Lane was built after 1818 and was acquired by Charles Wells in December 1875. Registered 1910.

Building work began on the new brewery at Havelock Street in March 1974, brewing began in January 1976, and the new brewery was officially opened on 18 May 1976. The Horne Lane site was sold to Bedford Corporation.

In May 2006 formed a joint venture with Young & Co (Wandsworth), creating Wells & Young's Brewing Co. Ltd until 2011 when the latter sold their interest.

The Eagle Brewery and beer brands were acquired by Marstons PLC in 2017, but Charles Wells retained its pub estate. In 2019, it developed a new brewery, shop, pub and restaurant on the north-west edge of Bedford: see Wells & Co (Bedford).