George Wood & Son Ltd

George Wood & Son Ltd, Gravesend Brewery, Upper Wrotham Road, Gravesend, Kent.

Founded c.1750.

Leased from Charles Beckett by George Wood after latter’s death in 1858.

The offices were at 8 East Street.

Acquired by Russell's Gravesend Brewery Ltd. 1911 and was closed.

From: Kentish Brewers and the Brewers of Kent by Peter Moynihan

Joseph Joynes, East Street. Was a brewer in 1750 and was described as a “Brewer, of Milton, Gravesend” when he died in 1762.

Joynes & Keddell, East Street. This partnership was dissolved in 1774.

Andrew Beckett, East Street. It is believed that Beckett acquired Joynes’ Brewery in 1774.

Reed, Beckett & Ward, East Street. This partnership was in existence by 1786.

Beckett & Ward, East Street. Mr Reed had withdrawn from the partnership prior to 1794.

Charles Beckett & Son, East Street. Listed in a Directory of 1824. Charles Beckett jnr was now in partnership with his father.

Charles Beckett, East Street. Listed in Directories of 1829, 1834 and 1840. Beckett died in 1840.

C. A. & T. Beckett, East Street. Listed in Directories of 1844 and 1853. Andrew Beckett’s sons, Charles Andrew (born 1794) and Thomas (born 1807) took over the running of the brewery from their father.

Beckett & Son, 8 East Street. Listed in Directories of 1853 and 1855.

C. Beckett & Son, East Street. Listed in a Directory of 1858.

George Wood, East Street. Listed in Directories of 1859 and 1874. Wood leased the brewery and its licensed houses from the executors of Charles Beckett after his death in 1858. Wood had been born in Strood in 1810 and in 1851 had been a brewer, employing 13 men, in Lewes, Sussex. George Wood jnr (born in Lewes in 1844) took over after the death of his father in 1875.

George Wood & Son. Listed in Directories from 1882 until 1911. George Wood jnr in turn took his son George Edward Wood (born 1877) into partnership. George Wood jnr died in 1904 and the business was acquired by Messrs Russell’s Gravesend Brewery Ltd (qv) in 1911. The licensed houses were sold to Russell’s in 1912 by the Trustees of Charles Beckett.