Hill & Co. Ltd
J Hill & Co. Ltd, Brentwood Brewery, Warley Road, Brentwood, Essex.
Founded by 1859. Registered July 1895.
Acquired by Ind Coope Ltd. September 1900 with about 31 public houses.
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
Thomas Hill was a contractor as early as 1850 but by 1859 he had combined this building trade with that of a brewer.
On his death after 1866 the business traded under his executors until 1870, it then traded as T and J. Hill, Britannia Brewery.
The site of the brewery was immediately adjacent to the Great Eastern Railway main line and close to the extant Essex Arms public house.
Thomas and Jeremiah Hill were listed in 1882 as brewers maltsters, wine and spirit merchants and mineral water manufacturers. On the death of Thomas, Jeremiah changed the trading name to his only, this continuing up to July 1895 at which time it became a limited company.
In 1899, a John Hill owned the Lion and Lamb public house, High Street and also the old Railway Hotel, The King's Head Hill, (now demolished) both of which were purchased by Ind Coope Ltd. The Ind Coope brewery purchased the concern on the 11th April, 1900, including the large railway served malthouse demolished to make way for existing light industry and station car parking. Thirty-one licensed houses were included in the sale. A further small malthouse situated in Hart Street, beside The Gardiner's Arms public house, was demolished many years ago, it being in existence in 1902.
In a trade advertisement used in 1882, two Royal Coats of Arms are depicted, but it is unlikely that a Royal Warrant was issued to the company. A further trade advertisement of the 1890's depicted a wooden cask of beer. The brewery was a large four storeyed-block surrounded by allotment gardens, which was developed as a residential area with The Great Eastern Road and Myrtle Road giving access.