John Woolston

From Brewery History Society Wiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search

John Woolston, Anchor Brewery, High Street, Rayleigh, Essex.

Established c.1785.

In 1879 acquired by John Woolston and George C Croft, previously at the City of London Brewery Co. Ltd. Their partnership was dissolved.

In January 1874 and Croft went on to purchase the Halesworth Brewery.

In June 1884 the executors of the late John Woolston sold the business to Henry Luker & Co. Ltd of Southend. Brewing may have continued until 1906, but certainly the depot closed in March 1917, due to wartime licensing restrictions.

Part of the site was later used as a dairy.


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

The business commenced prior to 1874 when John Woolston was listed, he then set up a partnership with a Mr Croft. In 1882, Frank J.Thurston was the brewer manager to John Woolston, who was listed on his own again in 1884. On his death, his widow Sarah sold one of their licenced houses, The Ship and Anchor, to W.W. Daniell & Sons Breweries Ltd, Castle Brewery, Colchester.

The Anchor Brewery was sold in 1884 to Henry Luker & Co. Ltd who listed it as a branch of Southend-on-Sea and was last recorded in 1906.