William Younger & Co. Ltd

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1949
1949
1952
WMYoungerAdvert01.jpg
1984
William Younger van.jpg
Their Trade Mark Directory registration

William Younger & Co. Ltd, Abbey & Holyrood Breweries, Edinburgh, Lothian.

Monks at Holyrood Abbey are believed to have brewed since the 12th century. In 1749, William Younger established his first small brewery at Leith 1749; then moved to Holyrood in 1778. The firm moved site several times, and acquired the Abbey Brewery at the foot of the Royal Mile. In 1858, they acquired the Holyrood brewery of Alexander Berwick. Registered August 1887 and a public company formed in 1889.

Merged with William McEwan & Co. Ltd in 1931 to form Scottish Brewers Ltd. Merged with Newcastle Breweries Ltd. 1960 to form Scottish & Newcastle Breweries Ltd. New brewery built 1974.

The Holyrood Brewery and the adjacent modern Harp Lager brewery closed in May 1986.


The brewery features in The Noted Breweries of Great Britain and Ireland by Alfred Barnard published 1890.


An assortment of views of the brewery


Labels, advertising, etc

Entry in the Trade Mark Registry

Registration No  : 3,800
Description  : Two triangles
Date of Application  : 13/3/1876
Used Prior to 1875?  : 20 years

Registration No  : 3,804
Description  : Holyroyd House
Date of Application  : 13/3/1876
Used Prior to 1875?  : 20 years

Registration No  : 27,671
Description  : View of Holyroyd House
Date of Application  : 17/2/1882
Used Prior to 1875?  : NO

Registration No  : 36,133
Description  : Monk with tankard
Date of Application  : 13/3/1884
Used Prior to 1875?  : NO

Registration No  : 416,584
Description  : Three Triangles
Date of Application  : 02/07/1921
Used Prior to 1875?  : NO

Registration No  : 416,589/90/91
Description  : Square Label/ A Castle/ Diamond shape Label
Date of Application  : 02/07/1921
Used Prior to 1875?  : NO

Registration No  : 486,960
Description  : Old chap with long beard holding glass
Date of Application  : 20/12/1927
Used Prior to 1875?  : NO