Dunnell & Sons

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Harman & Bryden 2.jpg
Dunnells.jpg
Couresy Peter Perry

Dunnell & Sons, Old Brewery, 19 North Bar Street, Banbury, Oxfordshire.

In 1875 Robert Dunnell bought the Old Brewery from Harman & Bryden. He was then listed from 1876 to 1882, before trading as Dunnell Robert & Son from 1883 to 1895. In 1876 they were letting the Dog & Gun and in 1877 the Bell at Great Bourton.

In 1887 they had a yearly lease of the Newmarket Inn, Chipping Norton. In 1896, Arthur James Dunnell was the licensee of the Fleur-de-Lis, 54 Broad Street.

They advertised the following price list:-

BEER TYPE PRICE
East India Pale Ale EIPA 54/-
India Pale Ale IPA 48/-
Pale Ale PA 36/-
No.1 Strong Ale XXXX 48/-
No.2 Superior Mild XXX 42/
No.3 Mild XX 36/-
No.4 X 30/-
No.5 24/-
Double Stout DS 48/-
Single Stout S 36/-
Good haymaking and Harvest ales at 6d and 4d per gallon.

They then traded as Dunnell & Sons until 1915. However, on 30th September 1909, the partnership between Arthur James and Alan Richard Dunnell was ended, with Arthur continuing to operate on his own.

Arthur J Dunnell, who had succeeded his father Arthur sen, died 2nd March 1914, aged 59. He left an estate of £11,364, having been president of Banbury & District LVA and involved with many organisations in the town. The brewery was described as one of the oldest in the Midlands, having been in business for over 100 years. Arthur had been articled at Youngman Preston & Co. of Lowestoft, before working for Greene King & Sons Ltd at Bury St Edmunds. It was announced that his sister Miss Bertha Dunnell was to continue the business, having been personally connected with it for the past 21 years. In 1915 the business became Dunnell & Co.

However, the question of death duties may have created some problems, since Hook Norton Brewery Co. Ltd’s history describes Dunnell as being in trouble in September 1915 and the Board considered buying the concern.

The brewery closed in 1918 when Hunt, Edmunds & Co. Ltd bought it in January from Miss Dunnell, with 35 pubs. They sold the brewery immediately and it was used by JF Booth & Son building contractors.

The estate had included:-

  • Plough 40 Calthorp St closed 1936
  • Reindeer 47 Parsons St owned from around 1909
  • Town Hall Tavern, 1 Bridge Street closed 1904
  • Whitesmith’s Arms 50 Bridge Street closed compensation in 1910

They had also supplied houses in Gloucestershire:-

  • George Shipston-on-Stour 1878
  • Plough Inn Cold Aston 1903
  • Wellington Hotel Bourton on Water 1891-93
  • White Lion Moreton-in-Marsh leased 1891-1903

For many years the building stood almost complete behind a car showroom (F123). In 1993, despite its long history it was described as being of limited architectural merit and hence the District Council had no option but to authorise its demolition. It was demolished to provide yet another valuable car-park, but at least the bricks were salvaged for re-cycling.

An assortment of images of the brewery