The Soothill Brewery, Dewsbury

The 1893 OS Map showing the location of the brewery

The Soothill Brewery, Batley

by

Stephen Dewhirst

This was a tower brewery built in 1867 on Grange Road (Brewery Road), Soothill, Batley (SE 2590 2362).

It functioned as a brewery until 1900 and was then used for various other purposes during the 20th century, including a vinegar works (1921-34). It was finally demolished in 1976.

Initially, it was owned by John and Matthew Sykes, along with their brother-in-law James Upton Wooler, with Matthew running the day-to-day operations. Latterly, it was owned and operated by John’s son, Robert Hemsworth, until he sold up.

Wooller is listed in the census as a maltster, probably supplying the brewery. The Sykes family also operated as Maltsters at Ossett, but no further details have been found.

Chronology

1858 William Sykes and James Upton Wooler were maltsters in Soothill.

1867 Date stone on the brewery tower. It was said to have been built by James Upton Wooler.

1868 John Sykes is said to have joined as a partner. The Partnership was John Sykes, Matthew Sykes and James Upton Wooler, who was their brother-in-law.

1869 The Soothill Brewery company applied for permission to erect stables.

1870 Erection of two privies and an ashpit of the brewery. Case for recovery of wages against John Sykes, James Upton Wooler & Matthew Sykes, brewers of Hanging Heaton (Soothill)

1871 The plan for a square room at Soothill Brewery was approved, indicating that they were using or intended to use the Yorkshire Square method of brewing. Application for vote on local Council: John Sykes, the owner of a share in the Soothill brewery, was represented by his brother Matthew, and supported by Mr Tyas. Mr M Sykes said that the brewery would let for £250 per year, and his brother's share was one-third. The vote was allowed. By this time, John was living in Burton, Denbighshire. Matthew Sykes represented Sykes and Co in the case of Michael McDermott of the Wellington Inn, Batley. Mc Dermott owed them £4.

1873 Mr Sykes bid at an auction for the Sir Robert Peel beerhouse in Dewsbury but was unsuccessful.

1874 The brewery's wastewater was polluting the brook that ran past the works. This had caused damage to one of the gas holders at the local Gas works, and Sykes & Co offered £100 for damages. The dispute continued with Sykes & Co increasing their offer of compensation to £150 in 1875. James Upton Wooler, Corn Miller, Maltster and Farmer, bankrupt.

1875 A cricket match between Soothill Brewery and Rouse Mill (owned by Wooler). Paid £60 to have gas laid on to the brewery. Sykes and Co. purchased the Station Hotel, Batley, for £6,000.

1876 Wooler left the partnership of John Sykes, James Upton Woller and Matthew Sykes. John and Matthew are to continue the business. Matthew Sykes applied for a hotel license for a new hotel to be built in Batley Market Square. This was refused, and the hotel was never built. At the Brewsters sessions, Matthew Sykes is described as ‘brewer, beer and spirits.’

1879 Station Hotel and refreshment rooms to be let.

1880 Herbert Marshall of the Soothill Brewery patented an improvement in apparatus used in the manufacture of spile pegs. This was allowed to lapse.

1881 Dissolution of the partnership of John Sykes, Matthew Sykes, and Robert Hemsworh Sykes in Soothill Brewery. Robert Hemsworth is to continue the business. Dissolution of partnership John Sykes, Matthew Sykes, and Robert Hemsworh Sykes as Maltsters at Ossett. Matthew and Robert Hemswiorth are to continue the business.

1884 Fifth prize for best-groomed draught horses. The groom was Davis Sawby. John Barraclough of the Theat Sheaf Inn, Stump-cross, Morley, innkeeper and quarryman, owed R.H. Sykes £150. Cooper was wanted at the brewery.

1885 Alfred William Briggs, The Bath Hotel, Bradford Road, Batley, publican and soda water manufacturer, owed R H Sykes £100.

1887 Application for an injunction by R. H. Sykes against Jas. Watson, a former publican now working as a brewer’s traveller and secretary to the Dewsbury and District Licensed Victuallers Association, to prevent him from soliciting orders for wines, spirits, etc., within a ten-mile radius of Dewsbury Market Place. In 1885, Watson owed £42 7s to Sykes and agreed not to seek orders within ten miles of Dewsbury Market Place. He had been employed by the brewer for three years since 1881. The injunction was granted.

1888 Described as ale and porter brewers.

1896 Robert Hemsworth Sykes decided to float the brewery as a limited company under the name R H Sykes & Co. Ltd. The directors were to be Joseph Armitage Armitage, J.P., of Stores Hall, Huddersfield; Herbert Beaumont, solicitor, of Hatfield Hoses, Wakefield; and R. H. Sykes, managing director, of Woodlands House, Batley.

R H Sykes & Co. Ltd — This company has been formed to take over the brewery and business carried on by Mr R. H. Sykes, at the Soothill Brewery, Batley, and to acquire the business of the Atlas Brewery Company, Limited. Batley, which is one mile from the Soothill Brewery, together with forty-one valuable hotels, public houses, and beerhouses connected therewith. These properties are all within easy carting distance of the Soothill Brewery, and most of the trade is tied. The brewery is built on the tower principle, has a plant capable of turning out 30,000 barrels per annum, which, with a small expenditure, can be increased to 40,000 barrels, and is more than equal to the new trade taken over from the Atlas Company. The purchase price for the whole property is £106,000, of which £80.000 is payable in cash and £26,000 in fully paid-up preference and ordinary shares. The share capital of the company is fixed at £60,000 in £10 shares, of which half are cumulative preference shares to bear 6 per cent interest and the rest ordinary shares. Of the latter, £16,000 worth will be taken by the vendor, and the rest will be held in reserve for future issue, and £10.000 of preference shares will also be so taken. There are therefore offered for public subscription £20,000 of the 6 per cent cumulative preference shares and £ 60,000 of debenture stock, bearing interest at the rate of 4 per cent per annum. This stock is secured by a first mortgage on all the company's property and is also a first charge on the floating assets; therefore, it is well secured for investors. Further particulars will be found in our advertising columns, and additional information may be obtained from Messrs. F. W. Bentley and Co., stockbrokers. Estate Buildings. Huddersfield, who are the brokers for the company. The subscription list will be opened on Monday next, the 29th isn’t, and will close on or before the following day.

Having acquired the Atlas Brewery at Warwick Road, this was to be closed, and brewing was carried on only at Soothill.

Sykes successfully sued Helliwell for failure to renew a lease on The Fountian Inn. Morley and Market Tavern in Birstall.

Shop with a beer licence at Thornes Lane, Wakefield, purchased for £1,700 by Mr Sykes for the Soothill Brewery company.

Application for the erection of a new cart shed.

1897 R. H. Sykes purchased a grocer's shop with an off-licence at Carlinghow for £2,100.

In February, a shareholders' meeting at the Station Hotel was told there was a net balance of £1,415 1s. 11d, and a dividend of 6% was declared on preference shares and 8% on ordinary shares.

December: A new syndicate (Leeds & Batley Breweries Ltd) purchased the business of R H Sykes and Company. This was to purchase the brewery, property and licenses. In a meeting at the Station Hotel in December, it was explained that. R H Sykes and Co Ltd, which ran the amalgamated Soothill and Atlas breweries, was floated at £106,000 and had spent £22,000 on new houses and properties, proposing to sell the concern for £155,000, with Mr Sykes as the chairman of the new company. At his time, £10 preference shares were trading at £12.

1898 Leeds & Batley Breweries Ltd registered on 20th January with a capital of £225,000. This was the new syndicate mentioned in December 1897.

25th March, R H Sykes and Company Ltd went into voluntary liquidation.

Application for additional cellarage at Soothill Brewery.

1899 Mr Schoefield, brewer at Soothill brewery entertained 35 employees to dinner at the Fox and Hounds (Hanging Heaton). Mr White was the cashier.

Laying of 4” gas main to Soothill Brewery to replace 2”. Perhaps this was for the gas engine, which was put up for sale in 1905.

1900 Sale of horses and waggons at Soothill brewery.

Leeds & Batley Breweries Ltd were in financial difficulties as a consequence of gross over-capitalisation and agreed to lease their properties to Ind Coope Ltd, except for Soothill Brewery and the Woolpacks Inn. The lease was to be for 21 years at a rental of £16,000. This is to take place on 8th October 1901.

1901 The brewery was put up for auction as Ind Coope brewed their ales in Burton. Ground rent £43 16s. In addition to the brewery, there was stabling, bottling, stores, offices, a substantial residence, three cottages and a close of land. The property was withdrawn after only one bid from Mr George Cowling of Soothill of £500.

'1902 Reported that the Soothill Brewery had not been disposed of.

1903-1920 Bradbury and Hirsch of Liverpool were renting the property and producing Shoddy manure, a business they had been involved in for more than twenty-five years. The company was established in 1873 as a general brokers but specialised in dealing with sulphate of ammonia, which was used as a fertiliser. They purchased this from various gasworks, including Batley, as early as 1886. Shoddy and Mungo are recycled wool products made from shredded rags. The short fibres, which could not be used for spinning, were used as manure, serving as a slow-release fertiliser, often sent to Kent for use on the hop fields.

1905 Crossley Gas engine (22 H.B P.) for sale. Apply J Rayner, Soothill Brewery.

1911 In 1909, Ind Coope Ltd defaulted on a payment and renegotiated a reduced rental of £11,250 per annum. The lease is set to expire on 30th June 1912, with the current rent being £10,000. The company was also in a position to pay a dividend on its preference shares, which have been in operation since 1908.

1920 Bradbury and Co put the machinery and plant at Soothill Old Brewery up for sale. This included a grinding pan, a 36-bucket elevator, wrought-iron pulleys, an engine bed (but no engine), belting, steam valves, etc. The company closed down in 1931.

1921-34 According to Malcolm Toft, Haigh brewery was owned by Beaufoy, Grimble and Co., who made vinegar there until 1934. Initially, this would have been Grimble’s Ltd, which in 1923 had breweries in London, Leith and Batley. In 1928, they merged with Beaufoy and became part of British Vinegars in 1932.

1926 By this time, Leeds and Batley Breweries Ltd had become Leeds and Batley Properties Ltd. The balance sheet for June 1925 listed a £57,000 item for goodwill, which held no real value as no business was being conducted. The company's licensed houses had now been revalued, showing a loss of £150,000. Preference and ordinary shares were written down from £1 to 5s, and after the scheme was approved, the capital was to be increased again to £225,000.

1935 The Brewery was put up for sale, comprising factory premises, building land, offices, residence, sheds, reservoirs, etc., with a total area of 7,120 yards and with a floor area of 2,550 yards.

1938 It was again offered for sale in 1938 and included an office block, presumably the two-storey building attached to the tower, a manager's house, Mill Chimney, and three cottages.

1939-45 It was used as a Ministry of Food supply depot.

1960s It was used for the manufacture of Breeze blocks, a sheet metal works and a scrap metal yard.

1976 Demolished.

Tied Houses

1. Wellington Inn beerhouse, Wellington Street, Batley. Sold to Sykes and co of about £90 in 1871
2. Fountain Inn, Morley, Market Tavern, Birstall.
3. Grocer's shop with off-licence at Carlinghow. Bought by Sykes for £2,100 in 1897.
4. Station Hotel at Batley Station. Bought by Sykes for £6,000 in 1875.
5. Fox and Hounds, Hanging Heaton,
6. 1899 Batley Alehouse Licenses
7. Victoria Inn, Bradford Road.
8. The George, Healey Lane
9. Wellington Inn, Wellington Street
10. The Queen, Wellington Street
11. Havencroft Hotel, Wards Hill
12. The Wheatsheaf, Mill Lane
13. Borough Arms, Wellton Street
14. 1899 Off-license, High Street, Carlinghow
15. Cross Park Street

People

John Sykes. Born in 1818, he married Christina Watson Thorley at Wrexham in 1846. After a brief time living in Thornhill, the family moved to Croes Howell near Wrexham, Denbighshire. He had an estate here and was an absentee partner in the Brewery. In the census, he lists himself as a landed proprietor -gentleman. When he died in 1886, he left an estate of £6,793. It was John’s son, John Hemsworth, who was to take over the brewery.

Matthew Sykes. Born in 1822, he married Martha Thornton at Thornhill in 1848, but they had no children. He lived at Soothill Grange, situated a few hundred yards east of the Brewery. In 1861, he farmed 103 acres at the Grange, employing one man and two boys. His nephew John, son of his brother John, was a student and was lodging with them. The road to Soothill Grange is called Sykes Lane. In 1871, he is listed as a common brewer employing 12 men, indicating he was the active partner in the business. In 1881, he was still listed as a common brewer. Matthew died in 1882 and was buried at Woodkirk. He left an estate of 1882.

Robert Hemsworth Sykes. In 1871, he was 18 and was living with his family in Denbighshire, but was described as a common brewer, so it is likely he was already involved in the brewery. In 1877, he married Mary Eleanor Chadwick at Dewsbury. On the certificate, he is listed as a brewer and was living in Dewsbury. In 1881, the family were living at Eightlands Road, Dewsbury, and he was listed as a master brewer and junior partner. By 1891 would have taken over the business on the deaths of his father and uncle. At this time, he had moved to Chiswell House, a large, detached property in its own grounds, about ½ mile from the brewery and is listed as a brewer. By 1901, he had moved yet again, this time to Woodland House on Soothill Lane, and at the age of 48, he described himself as a retired brewer. This later became Soothill Working Men’s Club. He died in 1907 at Bellwood House, Ripon, leaving £21,373.

James Upton Wooler. He was a corn miller at Rouse Mill (SE 2486 2368), which was on the Batley Beck about half a mile from the Soothill Brewery. Wooler was in partnership with John (1818-1886) and Matthew Sykes (1822-1882). Their father, Samuel (1764-1837), was a farmer at Dunningley, which is just north of Tingley.

In the 1851 census, he describes himself as ‘Farming 80 acres, Miller and Maltster, employing 4 labourers.’ Things had obviously improved, for in the 1861 census, he was a farmer, miller, and maltster, farming 184 acres and employing 12 men. By 1869, he employed twenty-eight men, and that year his partnership with William Sharrock at the Town Mill, Dewsbury, was dissolved, with Wooler remaining in the business.

In 1874, he declared bankruptcy, with his liabilities estimated at between £15,000 and £16,000, which led to him losing his seats on Dewsbury Council and the Soothill Upper Local Board. At a meeting at the Queen’s Hotel, Leeds, ‘James Upton Wooler, of Soothill, corn miller, maltster and farmer’ agreed to pay 5s 6d. in the pound to his creditors. Somehow, he managed to retain his share in the Brewery, and it wasn't until 1876 that he left the partnership. In the same year, Rouse Mill burnt down after a shaft overheated and ignited the wooden screens. The damage was estimated at £1,000 but was covered by insurance.

By 1881, the mill appears to have been operated by James Nicholson, but Wooler was living next door, describing himself as a ‘Farmer occupying 30 acres and employing one man’; however, Kelley’s directory for the same year lists John Woller and Edward Percival as corn millers at Rouse Mill. By 1885, he had retired to Harrogate. Woller died in 1892: Yesterday were interred at Harlow Cemetery. Harrogate, the remains of Mr James Upton Wooler. formerly of Rouse Mill. Batter, who died at his residence in the former town on Wednesday, at the ripe old age of eighty-one years, Mr Wooler, when he lived here, took an active part in matters affecting Church and State, for he was an ardent and enthusiastic Conservative, and as such was respected by the strongest of his opponents. He was an excellent man of business, gave some attention to local affairs, chiefly as affecting Soothill, and was a liberal supporter of any cause he espoused. His favourite place of worship was the old church of Dewsbury, and he and his family attended there for many years, as parishioners. Rouse Mill being in the parish of Dewsbury. He leaves numerous sons and daughters, and has died much esteemed.

Appendix 1 – R H Sykes & Co. Ltd

Prospectus This Company is formed to take over the old-established Brewery and business carried on by Mr R. H. Sykes, and known as the Soothill Brewery, Batley, and to acquire the brewery business of the Atlas Brewery Company, Limited, Batley, which is within one mile of the Soothill Brewery, together with 41 valuable hotels, public houses, and beerhouses connected therewith.

The properties taken over are mostly situated in improving districts, and are all within easy carting distance from the Soothill Brewery. The trade is mainly tied.

The Soothill Brewery business has been in the Sykes family for twenty-eight years, and Mr R. H. Sykes, who has been actively engaged in the business for the past twenty-seven years, joins the Board as Managing Director.

The Brewery is built on the tower principle, is fitted with a valuable 20-quartcr plant of modern construction, and is capable of turning out 30,000 barrels per annum, which can be at once increased to 40,000 barrels per annum at a cost of less than £500, and the plant is now more than equal to the supply of the new trade taken over from the Atlas Company.

The Debenture Stock and interest thereon will be secured by First Mortgage to the Trustee of the following properties: —

(a) The freehold brewery and promises, together with about two acres of land at Warwick Road, Batley; also the Soothill Brewery, Batley (Leasehold for 999 years from December 26, 1886).

(b) 23 Freehold hotels, public-houses and beerhouses, situate in Batley, Batley Carr, Dewsbury, Leeds, and district.

(c) 11 Leasehold hotels, public-houses and beerhouses, in the same district, of which two are for 999 years respectively.

(d) 4 Annuals, and houses tied by mortgage and loans.

Total 41

(e) 4 Freehold and leasehold shops, 30 cottages, and several parcels of building land purchased with, and in most instances adjoining, the above properties. And will be further secured by a first charge upon all the floating assets of the Company. The whole of the properties and assets of the Company have been valued by Messrs. Edwin Belfield and Co., Brewery Valuers, of 57, Moorgate Street, London, E.C., who report as follows: —

57, Moorgate Street, London, E.C., June 24, 1896. To the Directors of R. If. Sykes and Co., Limited, Batley.

“Gentlemen, —We have made a careful survey and valuation of the whole of your properties and assets, consisting of: —

(1) The Freehold Brewery at Warwick Road, Batley, with the dwelling-houses, offices, and land thereto belonging; the long Leasehold Brewery and Land, with manager’s house, offices, cottages, and other buildings adjoining thereto, together with all the fixed plant and machinery in both breweries; 26 freehold hotels, public-houses and beerhouses, and two long leasehold public-houses, three off-licenses, and one leasehold public-house ninety-nine years from 1886, which in our opinion are worth the sum of £82.000 (2) Ordinary leaseholds, yearly tenancies, and houses tied by loan, worth £1,859 (3) Book debts, loans, horses, vehicles, office furniture, fixtures, fittings, and other general effects, on, in, and about the breweries and premises, worth ... £14.384 6d 9d “We value the whole of the foregoing assets at the sum of £38,243 6s. 9d.

“In arriving at this value, we have not considered the general goodwill of the business.

Yours faithfully, EDWIN BELFIELD AND CO.”

The books and accounts have been investigated by Messrs. Armitage and Norton, Chartered Accountants, of Huddersfield, who certify as follows: —

“Huddersfield, June 24.1896. “To the Directors of R. H. Sykes and Co., Limited. “Dear Sirs, —In accordance with your instructions, we have examined the brewery books and accounts of Messrs. Sykes and Co., Soothill Brewery, Batley, and of the Atlas Brewery Company, Limited, Batley, and we hereby certify the profits as follows: —

For the year ended December 31, 1894 £5,007 „ „ „ 1895 £7,552 „ four months ended April 30, 1896 £2,529

which is equal to an average for the two years and four months of £6,643 per annum.

The cost of repairs to the brewery buildings and public-house properties has been charged against revenue, and in respect of all other assets, allowance has been made for depreciation.

It was announced in December that several lots of property in East Leeds were to be disposed of by the Leeds & Batley Breweries Ltd, ‘who are concentrating their business at Soothill Brewery.’

The Savile Green tower Brewery, which had a 32-barrel brewing capacity and an area of 950 square yards. This was sold to Mr George Holliday of New Brighton for £900. He also purchased the adjoining Saville Green House. The sale also included various houses and some land.