Seabrooke & Sons Ltd

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From 1923
Messrs. Seabrooke & Sons Ltd., New Malting, Grays, Essex. Brewers’ Journal 15th November 1900
Courtesy Ian Peaty

Seabrooke & Sons Ltd, Thorrock Brewery, Bridge Street, Grays, Essex.

Founded 1799 by Thomas Seabrooke. Registered 1891.

Acquired by Charrington & Co. Ltd. 1929 with 120 public houses and brewing ceased.

Brewery demolished 1969.


List of Seabrooke & Sons Ltd pubs


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

Roger Seabrooke was a farmer from Buckingham and came to Grays as the representative of the Duke of Newcastle. In 1774 he was elected as the Aleconner until he died in August 1791. His son Thomas was a brickmaker but had learnt the art of brewing, as he declared on 10th January, 1800, to the Excise Officer of George III, that he was a common brewer, residing in the High Street. Business developed to such an extent that a new site in Bridge Street was purchased. In 1839 it was known as the Grays Brewery under the ownwership of Thomas and James Seabrooke. Thomas Seabrooke, listed as a brickmaker in 1832 died in 1855.

James's eldest son Charles reached the age of 21 in 1863 and he was taken into partnership, the trading name of Seabrooke and Son, brewers, maltsters, corn and coal merchants, being used. By 1877 there were 26 employees, who witnessed another change of company name to Seabrooke and Sons in 1881, which title was in use until 1891. Early in 1884 a bad fire seriously damaged the malthouse, and a new design by the architects Arthur Kinder and Sons Ltd., was implemented, being completed by 1900. This was served by private railway sidings, as was the bottling stores across Bridge Street. In 1887 as part of the further development of the brewery, a 7 1/4" Artesian well 140 feet deep was installed which produced 9,000 gallons of water per hour.

James Seabrooke died at the age of 79 in 1888, leaving his three sons to continue the business, which they formed into a Limited Liability Company in April, 1891. At the turn of the century, Charles's three sons Charles, Herbert and William and nephew Frank were directors of the company. William Seabrooke however did not get on well with his brothers so his father purchased Frederick Miller's Marine Brewery of Brightlingsea for him, see:- C. & W. R. Seabrooke. In 1913 an unusual accident resulted in the death of Mr John Norton who was the brewing engineer. He was assisting Herbert Cecil Seabrooke, the Head Brewer, in emptying a hot liquor tank and whilst turning off a valve, fell into the vat and died shortly afterwards in hospital. In November of the same year, Charles Seabrooke J.P. died at the age of 71. Earlier in 1886, the company was also listed as salt and general wharfingers, they also had several vessels of their own, and in order to obtain further business, they employed John W.S. Bowton as a traveller.

In 1914 Seabrookes expansion continued with the purchase of Blyth and Squier, Stanford-le-Hope brewery and two licenced houses. A further acquisition was the Baddow Brewery and 53 public houses in 1927, which brought the total tied estate to 120 licensed houses, producing a profit in 1928 of £32,000.

A heavy blow befell employees when in 1929 Messrs Charrington & Co. Ltd. Anchor Brewery, Mile End Road, London E, bought Seabrookes out. The brewery closed a few months after purchase and was acquired by the Grays Cooperative Society who used the brewery premises as a laundry, the old bottling stores being used as a dairy depot. The malthouse and brewery buildings were demolished in 1969, the large yard area, still with railway sidings, then being used as the Co-op coal depot.

In October, 1969, Mr C.D. Seabrooke retired after 45 years as brewer to Messrs Mew, Langton & Co. Ltd, on the Isle of Wight. His younger brother, James B. Seabrooke, retired in 1971, as Senior Head Brewer to Tetley Walker Ltd., Leeds.

The old trade mark of "Thor's Oak" had at long last died.


An assortment of images of the brewery

Entry in the Trade Mark Registry

Registration No  : 380,632
Description  : Cognac Label
Date of Application  : 17/11/1917
Used Prior to 1875?  : NO


Registration No  : 93,077
Description  : Tree in circle with words "Thor
Date of Application  : 10/10/1889
Used Prior to 1875?  : NO


Registration No  : 97,626
Description  : Words "Thurrock Ales
Date of Application  : 6/5/1890
Used Prior to 1875?  : Since 1868