Daniel Pettifor - A History

Daniel Pettifor & Sons, Steam Brewery, Main Street/Bradgate Road, Ashby-de-la-Zouch.

A History by Mike Brown

From 1794 to 1815 a Thomas Pettifor was at the Stag & Pheasant, Humberstone Gate in Leicester, from where his son William operated as a carrier, but family links with Anstey have yet to be established. There was also a Mrs Ann Pettifor at the Horse and Trumpet, in nearby Sileby, in 1848. Additionally, around 1864 to 1870, Cooper and Pettifor operated as soda water manufacturers, 19 Charles Street, Leicester. In 1875, Daniel Pettifor was listed as a brewer, baker and grocer, having previously been a baker and beer retailer, but the following year he was only shown as a brewer. Kelly’s 1877 directory lists Pettifor as a large brewer, which suggests that he may have taken over the business previously operated by Dolemans.

In 1880, he was described as an ale and porter brewer, although the following year in Wright’s directory he was simply listed as a brewer. Three years later he was shown as a brewer and maltster again. In 1891, the business was listed as Daniel Pettifor & Sons (F63). The sons were Daniel junior and George. The family home was at Newtown Linford. Around this time, Pettifor’s stout was available from Thomas Fox’s ale stores in Church Gate, Leicester. They also had an off-licence at Ratby, which they sold to Leicester Brewing and Malting around this time.

Interestingly, their advertisement in Wright’s 1894 Directory states that the brewery was established in 1840. This supports the strong possibility that they were operating on the site previously used by Doleman and the overlap with Coupland may have been caused by the directories being out-of-date.

The advertisement mentions their Noted Double Stout and Ales. They were also supplying mineral waters and bottled double stout and bitter, in both pint and half pints. The mineral water plant was located at one of the off-licensed premises which was opposite the brewery in the Main Street, and it is possible that this where they had originally started as grocers and brewers. There was also an agency and stores in the High Street at Ibstock.

Their papers show that they were selling their stout at 50/- per barrel to the Bradgate Hotel in Newtown Linford. They were also giving what seems to be the standard 20% on their beers. This was their only leasehold property, with a rent of some £80 pa.

In 1900, as well as beer, Pettifors were producers of stone beer and mineral waters. However, in January 1900, Marston’s Directors were looking at the business and they decided to purchase it. The take-over was completed by 26th March, financed by a share issue which took Marstons nominal capital from £208,000 to £325,000. This included the following preference shares:-

• George Matts Pettifor £10,450 1,045 shares
• Daniel Pettifor £10,450 1,045 shares
• Rev John Shipley Pettifor, Baston, Lincs £2,000 200 shares

In 1896, George Matts Pettifor was the licensee of the Melton Hotel in Leicester. Other parties involved were:- Mary Ann Watts Stevenson, wife of William Job Henry Stevenson of King Richard’s Road, Leicester - 100 shares. Frances E Nickson wife of James Nickson, Park Hall, Towcester - 100 shares.

In terms of the Pettifor estate, one of the off-licences in Main Street was kept by an Harriet Matts and the Queen’s Head Markfield by George Shipley Matts, whilst Henry Shipley ran the off-licence at Station Road, Ratby. These all suggest family links, given the Pettifor first names.

The sale included the brewery, maltings and offices, together with the aerated water factory opposite. The estate, valued at £58,300, included 11 pubs and beerhouses, 10 off-licensed beerhouses and the Working Mens’ Club in Anstey. The valuation was originally to be undertaken by Orgill Marks and Lawrence of London, before it was decided a local firm could do it more cheaply; however, the latter’s figure of £41,425 seems to have been over-ruled. On the basis of the higher valuation, Marstons were able to raise a £30,000 mortgage with the Law Guarantee & Trust Society. The following values suggest that the business was not very large:-

Horses £ 90 Casks £526 Plant £457

The valuation stated that the properties were generally in a fair state of repair and appeared to be occupied by a very respectable class of tenants. It also said that tenants had reported that they preferred the beer which they were now receiving from Marstons, rather than that which they had previously had from Pettifors. Pettifors had some 5 additional properties, the ownership of which seems to have remained with the family, until they were transferred to Marstons in the 1930s.

On 5th February, 1901, there was a sale by auction in Leicester of the brewery and malt houses, together with a dwelling house, five cottages and the offices. These had been valued previously at £5,100. The sale details state that the brewing plant was also available. The plan shows the site fronting on to Main Street and just down from the Green and Hollow Lane (now Hollow Road). Some of the buildings are now used by Potters Carpets.

However, Pettifors continued to trade until at least 1913 as wine and spirit merchants, bottlers and mineral water manufacturers, presumably as a subsidiary of Marstons. Marstons kept the brewery as a depot on Bradgate Road (Main Street having been re-named), which around 1930 was listed as H Widdowson, Steam Brewery. The depot operated until 1st June 1957, when they sold some of the site, with the remainder being sold in 1969.