Bass, Ratcliff & Gretton Ltd

The registration of Trade Mark No 1 following the introduction of legislation

Bass M&B letterhead 1966

Bass letterheads

The tomb of William Bass (1717-1787) and Michael Thomas Snr (1760-1827) in St Modwen's churchyard, Burton

The tomb of William Bass (1717-1787) and Michael Thomas Snr (1760-1827) in St Modwen's churchyard, Burton

Burton Barrel stack

Burton Unions

Burton steam engine

A 1916 Sentinel

Bass artefacts

A reproduction jug. Courtesy Roy Denison

The old Three Pots Inn on the A5 at Hinckley

Bass lantern from the former Castle Tavern in Hinckley

Kings Arms, Newport Mon, 2010

Golden Cup Hanley "Bass Only" 2008

Golden Cup Hanley "Bass Only" 2008

Letter 1962

Bass lantern at the Sir Richard Steele, London NW3

Bass In Bottle

Courtesy Roy Denison

A cartoon by Gordon Honeysett following a visit to the Bass No2 Brewery sample room.

Bass, Ratcliff & Gretton Ltd, 137 High Street, Burton-upon-Trent, Staffordshire

The Bass family were from Hinckley in Leicestershire, where they brewed beer and operated a carrier's business. William Bass (1717–1787) moved to Burton and founded his brewery there in 1777. When William died, his sons Michael Thomas Bass (1760-1827) and William Bass inherited the business. Michael Thomas took sole control of the business in 1795, and in 1796 he entered into partnership with John Ratcliff. At Michael Thomas's death, his son, a second Michael Thomas Bass (1799-1884) took control of the company. This Michael Thomas Bass was MP for Derby from 1848 to 1883. John Gretton became a partner in the company in 1835.

The second (Middle) brewery opened on the north side of Station Street in 1853 and third (New) brewery on the south side of Station Street 1864. The Old Brewery was rebuilt 1876, but most of this brewery was demolished in 1971; the water tower (1866) and offices (1886) survive on the east side of High Street.

Registered 1880 and was reconstructed 13th January 1888.

Acquisitions:

• Phillips & Marriott Ltd of Coventry were acquired in 1924 and closed.
• Merged with Worthington & Co. Ltd in January 1927. In the same year they also took over Thomas Salt & Co. Ltd of High Street, Burton-upon-Trent, and closed that brewery.
• James Eadie Ltd of Cross Street, Burton-upon-Trent, was taken over in 1933 and closed.
• Duncan & Daglish Ltd, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, acquired in 1940 and the brewery closed.
• Wenlock Brewery Co. Ltd, Hoxton, London N1, acquired via Worthington & Co in 1953; the brewery was closed in 1962.
• Thomas Morgan & Sons Ltd of Cowbridge, Glamorgan in 1955 (via Worthington & Co) and the brewery was closed.

Merged with Mitchells & Butlers Ltd. 1961 to form Bass, Mitchells & Butlers Ltd, which then merged with Charrington United Breweries Ltd in 1967 to become Bass Charrington Ltd.

No 1 brewery opened 1968 and the Old or No 3 brewery demolished in 1971.

Bought by Interbrew in 2000 and sold to Molson-Coors in 2002. Site of Middle brewery still used for brewing in much altered form: the New Brewery site retains more of its original buildings.

References:

• The Capital of Ale by Keith Osborne (2008).

• List of Bass, Ratcliff & Gretton Ltd pubs
• Bass Maltings, Sleaford
• Michael Thomas Bass (1799-1884)
• Bass Boundary Plates, Burton-upon-Trent
• Article: The Bass Rifle Volunteers by Philip A Talbot
• Article: "Messrs Bass and Co's Breweries" (Published 14 November 1874)
• The Bass Museum

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

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An assortment of images of the brewery

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  The Middle Yard
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  The Middle or White Yard
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  The New or Blue Yard
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  New Brewery, Station Street, Burton
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  Offices & Old Brewery, High Street, Burton
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  1834
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  An engine from the 1950s
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  1985
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  1990
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  2011
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  Railings around the Middle Brewery feature Bass 'triangles': 2011
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  Railings around the Middle Brewery feature Bass 'triangles': 2011
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  Bass Pumping Station, Shobnall Road, March 2011
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  Bass Pumping Station, Shobnall Road, March 2011
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  Bass Pumping Station, Shobnall Road: Nov 2017
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  Bass Pumping Station, Shobnall Road: Nov 2017
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  A Bass 'triangle' over the doorway of the former Bass offices on the High Street, 2009
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  A Civic Society blue plaque at the former High Street offices, 2009
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  The brewery in 2010. Courtesy Roy Denison
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  2022
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  2022
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  2022

The brewery in the 1960s

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The New Brewery, demolition 1987

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Labels, etc

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  Pale Ale Label
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  An American example
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  An American example

The Crown & Anchor Yard off Castle Street in Hinckley, where the Bass family were brewing in the 18th century

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A plaque commemorating the birth of William Bass is displayed at 67 Castle Street, Hinckley

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Entry in the Trade Mark Registry Registration No  : 1, 2, 3 & 914 Description  : A red triangle and diamond Date of Application  : 01/01//1876 Used Prior to 1875?  : Triangle from 1855. Diamond from 1857 Registration No  : 21,701 Description  : Facsimile signature Date of Application  : 24/12/1879 Used Prior to 1875?  : 37 years Registration No  : 21,702 Description  : Facsimile signature Date of Application  : 24/12/1879 Used Prior to 1875?  : 37 years Registration No  : 383,601 Description  : Mild Ale Label Date of Application  : 31/05/1918 Used Prior to 1875?  : NO Registration No  : 492,366 Description  : Salt & Co Label Date of Application  : 14/06/1928 Used Prior to 1875?  : NO