W & S J King

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The brewery yard during renovation in 1990

W & S J King, Gravel End Brewery, The Gravel, Coggeshall, Essex.

Founded 1793 as seed growers.

Brewing from 1870.

Acquired by Daniell & Sons Breweries Ltd. 1907.


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 founding of this renowned seed growing firm is recorded as 1793 when John (Kemp) King commenced his family business. He died prior to 1895, leaving a son John to carry on the expanding seed growing concern.

The first record of John Kemp King in the licensed trade was in 1850, when he was recorded as a beer retailer. This was no doubt the Gravel Hotel in West Street, later to be renamed The Cricketers which was also the offices of the seed merchants business.

Five years later he was listed at The Cricketers and is a seed grower. The first record of brewing was in 1870, coupled with wine and spirit merchant and seed grower, at The Gravel.

In 1885 a Royal Warrant was granted to J K King, still held to this day, as seedsmen. In 1907 the firm owned 1,500 acres primarily around Coggeshall. On the Ordnance Survey map for 1875, The Gravel Brewery is indicated at the rear of The Fleece public house, next door to the National Trust property called Paycocks. The second edition (1897) O.S. map shows the brewery to have moved across the road opposite The Cricketers public house. This was between the existing houses and the now demolished Orchard Silk Mill. The "L" shaped brewery buildings were demolished in 1989/90. On the 30th January, 1885, Mr Hitchcock brewed his final brew and on the 5th February, 1885, Mr Sarvard took over as Head Brewer. An advertisement in the Coggeshall Almanac of 1895 listed the following draught beers, in pin to barrel sized casks:-

  • KK Superior Bitter Ale 48/-
  • GG olden Ale4 2/-
  • PA Pale Ale 36/-
  • AK Light Dinner Ale 30/-
  • XXXX Strong Ale 54/-
  • XXX Mild Ale 42/-
  • XX Mild Beer 36/-
  • DS Double Stout 54/-
  • SS Single Stout 42/-
  • P Porter 36/-

In 1892, the brewery's title changed to W and S. J. King, with John's two sons William from his first marriage and Stanley from his second marriage as brewery managers. At least two bottled beers were produced namely Golden Ale and Pale Ale. Probably due to the extreme competition of the other numerous Coggeshall brewers and the fact that the seedgrowing business was more successful, the company sold out to Daniell & Sons Breweries Ltd., Colchester, in 1907 including several public houses.

John Kemp King was landlord of the Cricketers public house at the Gravel around 1865. By his first marriage his son William was to join his father as brewery manager to be followed later by a son, Stanley, from his second marriage. Brewing was taking place at the Gravel End Brewery in 1882 and traded as J.K. King for ten years, following which the title became W and S.J. King, with John's two sons involvement.

In 1907 the business was taken over by Daniell & Sons Breweries Ltd., Colchester, the sale included numerous licensed houses. The old brew house buildings have been demolished to make way for a rear car park.