The House of Shipstone
THE HOUSE OF SHIPSTONE
Extracts from a Celebration Booklet issued in 1953
When, in 1852, James Shipstone first opened his brewery to serve the populace of Nottingham, he was by no means embarking on a novel undertaking.
Nottingham had for centuries enjoyed a somewhat unique reputation for brewing; its ancient rock-hewn caves had long proved ideal as cellars for fermentation and storage. Nottingham ale was indeed popular.
The peculiar mineral properties of its waters had created and maintained a certain quality in brewing which was the envy of other towns, the pride of its citizens. Jovial monks had discovered the water's virtues, discerning travellers had spread abroad its good name, ballads and folk song echoed its fame and the humble citizen of Nottingham sat back and enjoyed his good fortune beside foaming tankards and pots of Nottingham ware.
Into such an established craft came the young James Shipstone. Not for him a small wayside inn precariously poised on an uncertain brew concocted in outhouses and dark cellars.
James planned on much more ambitious lines. He was a pioneer in the application of science in the development of industry. The basic principles of brewing might remain broadly constant, but there were yet innumerable ways in which the craft could be improved by the application of methods more enlightened and scientific. Intensive research should proceed whilst production was speeded up, making for more efficient services to the public and more satisfied customers. James Shipstone sought for the secret of the beer that was best and allowed nothing to stand in his way to success.
Basford in 1852 was but a modest suburb of Nottingham. It had a small community with quite independent tastes, adjacent to, but by no means part of, the larger market town.
Here then, James Shipstone founded his new brewery; he hitched his wagon to a star, the familiar Red Star of Shipstones. Behind the frontage on Radford Road, embracing for many years the old Horse and Groom Inn the new brewery developed, maltings, brew houses, fermenting rooms, racking rooms and cooper's yards, with offices where James Shipstone and his sons supervised the great adventure.
For almost thirty years, James remained alone on the bridge, the sole arbiter of destiny, revelling in constant work which such an undertaking demanded. He conceived, planned, perfected and completed the various stages of his enterprise. In 1880, his eldest son James was taken into partnership, a tribute to the zeal of the pupil and the first indication that the creation of the founder was becoming too big for one man to control.
Some four years later another son, Thomas, came into the business and so began the firm of James Shipstone and Sons. Under the combined control of father and sons, the business made rapid headway until in 1891 the firm became incorporated into a joint stock company. In 1898, the Carrington Brewery was bought over, its stock and goodwill still further strengthening the Star Brewery.
On the death of the founder in 1897, James Junior became chairman of the company. Under his management, with the co-operation of his brothers, great developments resulted in the brewery extending still further its maltings and stores, etc. Familiar indeed were the Shipstone drays, magnificent pairs of horses held under masterful control by brawny horsemen seated high above ranks of barrels.
On roads which had not then been monopolised by motor traffic, these stately pairs were symbolical of the strength and influence of Shipstone's.
In 1914, the measured course of business was rudely interrupted by the outbreak of war. Shipstone horses were to be found in the first round-up when mobilisation began. Many of them had been scheduled for service with the South Notts. Hussars in the event of an emergency; they were immediately conscripted for less popular if more glorious work with the forces overseas. Captains B. A. Smith, P. H. Warwick, and G. A. Cantrell-Hubbersty were appointed to purchase transport horses and wagons, and at once commenced to interview the various farmers, coal merchants, etc whose horses had been previously "listed" for such an emergency.
The regimental transport was a somewhat "queer spectacle", several coal carts being included, and many of the Star Brewery (Shipstone's) drays, the latter well known in the town. Shipstone's found many of the best horses, one of these horses, it is related, measuring nearly eighteen hands, and when a few days later the horses were entrained, great difficulty was experienced in getting this huge animal into the cattle truck. Later this horse died of "poll evil", probably due to injuries received in the train. Few were destined to come back. A younger generation had to be called upon to continue the familiar sights on the streets of Nottingham.
Through all the anxious days of war, Shipstone's carried on. The normal avenues of business were seriously changed, brews were made for canteens and camps, for troops overseas both in Europe and the East. Red Star Ales were destined to follow Nottingham boys to many an unfamiliar or tragic rendezvous.
The happy management of the firm with James and Thomas Shipstone continued through the war until in 1922 on the death of James, Thomas the son became chairman. Through the period of years between the wars under Thomas and his nephews, James Henry and Ronald (sons of James Il), the business continued to expand. In 1922, the company acquired the controlling interest in the Beeston Brewery Co. Ltd. In 1926, George Hooley Ltd. was absorbed and other property acquired from time to time.
After fifty-six years of service in the business, the chairman, Sir Thomas, died in 1940. His had been also, like the founder's, a life primarily devoted to the interests of the company, though he yet found time, in a very full life, to work for and encourage many charitable institutions in and around the City.
A magistrate of the city and a governor of the Nottingham General Hospital, he was a generous patron of the Eye Infirmary, Ellerslie House, and the neurasthenic institute, at Beeston Hall.
With the passing of Sir Thomas, James Henry and Ronald became joint managing directors. Another generation of Shipstones had come into control. A happy arrangement indeed, while it lasted, but the untimely death of Ronald, four years later, broke a partnership that seemed to promise great possibilities. For the third time in succession, another James Shipstone was at the helm, bringing to the company all the accumulated knowledge of brewing so assiduously developed by the founder and his son, and of James Ill.
Through all the inevitable convulsions of the war, the company carried on. Again another vast organisation had to be geared to the national war effort, the normal sources of business being seriously disrupted, and the question of man-power becoming increasingly acute. Supplies were stringently controlled and replacements of machinery became increasingly difficult, yet the call for Shipstone's Ale never ceased. Demand far outstripped production. The time was to come when queues of customers might be seen waiting patiently outside a Shipstone House for the all-too-limited supplies available.
With the end of the war, Shipstone's resumed their policy of expansion to be applied as circumstances permitted. From time to time, other licensed premises were acquired, inns were rebuilt where possible, the neglect of war time removed by repairs and repainting. The plant at Star Brewery, so severely tested under war conditions, had to be overhauled and refurnished, and provision made for extensions which expanding business will necessitate.
As the company approached its century, James Henry Shipstone retired as managing director, being succeeded in that office by his son, the fourth James Shipstone. So the House of Shipstone begins its second century of development.