North Leicester Brewery Co
Thomas Nuttall, North Leicester Brewery Company, Beeby, Leicestershire..
In 1870, Thomas Nuttall was a landowner and farmer, living at Manor House. He was still only a farmer in 1875, when aged 40, but in that year he set up the first factory in the world for making Stilton cheese. Then in 1881 he was shown as a brewer and maker of Stilton cheese.
In 1884, Thomas Nuttall of the North Leicester Brewery (F237) was also shown at 16 Southgate Street, Leicester, but this was probably only a depot (F2723). The manager was Arthur West. Nuttall owned several pubs in the town, including the following:-
- Dolphin, Lichfield Street
- Duke of Portland, Oxford Street
- Lord Rancliffe, Redcross Street
- Mechanics Arms, Alexander Street
- New Jolly Angler, Wheat Street
- Princess Charlotte, Oxford Street
In 1891, it was shown as Thomas Nathanial Nuttall of the Leicester Brewery. However, it was registered in March 1894, as the North Leicester Brewing Company Ltd, with capital of £7,000. It also had depots at Melton and Uttoxeter. The manager around this time seems to have been a Frederick Harold Pearson.
An article in the Leicester Drinker for August 1999 includes a description of the layout of the brewery. The boiler house is the building on the right of the photograph, hence the chimney. The mash tun, said to be some 20ft in diameter, was in a building to the rear, with the coppers downstairs, probably in the central tower. It has been suggested that the part of building on the left may have been connected with malting, although the louvres would normally be associated with a fermenting area. Another source suggests that this part of the building was actually used for the cheese factory.
Sometime around this period, Thomas Nuttall is thought to have died. Certainly in 1896, the Beeby brewery was bought by the Midland Brewery Co. Ltd of Loughborough. They installed Job Facer as the manager. A photograph taken around this time shows the changed ownership and the relatively small size of the concern. It was still operating in 1899, but brewing ceased soon afterwards, possibly when the Midland Brewery Co. Ltd was taken over by Stretton's Derby Brewery Ltd. However, it is thought to have been used as a stores until around 1913. Some of the buildings, including the hop store, are thought to be still standing at the rear of Brewery Cottages (SK 662082). In addition, a nearby farm has the old signboard on one of its sheds.