Higson's Brewery Ltd

The trade mark in 1951.

A sample of the many adverts used by the company

The brewery when owned by Cain's

Higson's Brewery Ltd, Mersey Brewery, Stanhope Street, Toxteth, Liverpool, Merseyside.

Founded by William Harvey at Dale Street 1780, then 1788 at 56 Cheapside. In 1796 Fairclough, Harvey & Co, 60 Cheapside, Dale Street. The Harveys were succeeded in 1845 by Thomas Howard who died in 1865 leaving the Cheapside Brewery to his cashier, Daniel Higson.

Registered 1888 as Daniel Higson Ltd. Moved to the Windsor Brewery Upper Parliament Street 1914, renaming it the Cheapside.

Acquired the Toxteth brewery of Robert Cain & Sons Ltd in 1923. Re-registered as above January 1937.

New brewhouse in 1983 capable of brewing lager; Higsons were then acquired with 160 tied houses by Boddington's Breweries Ltd in June 1985, and thereby ownership passed to Whitbread in 1989. Brewing ceased at Toxteth in 1990. Under the ownership of Whitbread, the production was switched to Castle Eden.

In 1990 an MBO was formed as GB Breweries, and from then there were several different owners: see Robert Cain Brewery.

Acquisitions

• They acquired Smith, Mumford & Co of Liverpool in 1915.
• Spragg & Co. Ltd of Wallasey were acquired in June 1919 with 5 tied houses.
• Joseph Jones & Co. Ltd, Knotty Ash Brewery was acquired in 1927 with 68 licensed houses. Brewing ceased there in 1928.
• In 1946, they acquired Mellor & Sons Ltd of Liverpool with 22 houses.

The Higson's name has been revived twice:

• Higson's Brewery (2005-2008)
• H1780 Tap & Still (2017)

See also:

• Cains - Gallery
• "Higsons Brewery Limited: 1780-1980" by C J Hanley
• "Lost photos capture famous Liverpool brewery back in the 1980s" - a photo library from the Liverpool Echo. See: https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/nostalgia/gallery/lost-photos-capture-famous-liverpool-24666861

Images of the brewery.

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  The Cheapside Brewery at the turn of the 20th Century
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  The trade mark in 1981
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  Their 40 barrel tanker
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  A loaded waggon
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  The Bottling Store in 1963
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  The new fermenting room: 1963
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  The original fermenting room: 1963
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  The brewery in 1986. Courtesy Richard Spivey
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  The brewery in 1986. Courtesy Richard Spivey

The following images were taken on a BHS Visit in 1990

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Higsons' offices at 127 Dale Street in 2008. Courtesy Steve Peck

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From the Liverpool Echo

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Labels etc

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  Courtesy Roy Denison
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  Courtesy Roy Denison
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Entry in the Trade Mark Registry Registration No  : 476,456 Description  : Words "TROJAN" for fermented liquors & spirits Date of Application  : 06/01/1927 Used Prior to 1875?  : NO Registration No  : 477,196 Description  : Words "TROJAN" & picture of a Trojan Date of Application  : 27/01/1927 Used Prior to 1875?  : NO