Williams Thomas & Co, Royal Stag Brewery

Thomas Williams & Co. Ltd, Royal Stag Brewery.

In 1830 John Randall was a brewer and maltster in the village, but with no address given.

On 15th March 1833 the brewery house, cottage and tap were conveyed from John Forrester to John Williams. In 1835 the Black Swan, Newlands, High Wycombe went from William Morecraft to John Williams. John was a builder whilst his son Thomas was a brewer and William also a builder. The 1851 census shows Thomas aged 36 a maltster and brewer employing 4 men, including his son John aged 15.

Wednesday the 4th day of February 1835, at the same Hour and Place. William Howard, late of Wooburn-Green, near Beaconsfield, Bucks, formerly an Assistant to William Howard, a Farmer, now deceased, and late a Farmer, Corn-Chandler, and Dealer in Coals, and also an Assistant to John Williams, Maltster and Brewer, of Wooburn Town, Bucks. Thomas Williams was listed as a brewer from 1842 to 1876 and in 1854 was also shown as a maltster and farmer.

In 1857 they were possibly leasing the Crown at Wheeler End. John also gained the Queen of England at Slough.

In 1859 Williams was the owner of the Barley Mow in Wooburn. In 1866 the Compasses at Chepping Wycombe was conveyed to John.

Around 1868 they opened the Royal Stag beerhouse and a mineral water plant, noting that in 1851 George Williams, born c1825 in London, had been shown as a maker of ginger beer at Wooburn Green. However, in February 1868 John died and his property was later divided between his sons by a deed of partition of 11th December 1875.

In 1876 they acquired the Rose & Crown from William Rose deceased. In 1877 Thomas Williams and Sons were shown as the Royal Stag Brewery, listed to 1887.

In 1881 Thomas aged 60 (sic) was a brewer employing 25 men. With him was his nephew Thomas J Williams a 23-year old clerk and traveller. Next door was James Clisby a 30-year old brewer. Aaron Williams aged 38 was a brewer and farmer in Wycombe Lane. Others mentioned as brewers in the census and presumably employees: Daniel Clisby, aged 47; George Martin aged 36 and William Botterill, 46 and born in Leeds.

In 1884 extensions were carried out by Wilson & Co brewers engineers of Frome (BJ March p96). Thomas William died on 12th June 1888 aged 76 (!), leaving the business to his son Aaron. One of the trustees of his 1881 will was John Dulley, the Wellingborough brewer. He left £10420, of which £500 pa went to his daughter Sarah married to Ernest Hawkins, and the residue to Aaron. There was also mention of grandson Thomas Christopher John.

There was a conveyance on 17th June 1891 of the brewery with 25 quarter malting and the Brewery Tap beerhouse plus estate. Thomas Williams & Co Ltd Royal Stag Brewery was registered in June 1891 (BJ p349). This had authorised capital of £30 000: issued 250 £10 preference and 19 500 £1 ordinary. The first meeting of the directors on 18th June was attended by:

• Aaron Williams
• Edward Evison
• George Wadley chairman
• Herbert Vaughan company secretary

Vaughan, later described as a brewer, was born in Brixton c1860, may also have had family connections with Halesworth.

The business was purchased from Aaron for £35 135 18s 9d, and he held a mortgage of £11 000. The first dividend in December was 10% and they bought the Black Boy at Windsor and an off-licence in Maidenhead, as well as spending £800 on new building at the brewery. However, that year "Symonds" of Reading, see Simonds Ltd considered buying the business.

In 1892 land at the Harrow went from Wellers to Williams, described as becoming part of the Old Brewery premises. The 31st May 1892 year end produced a 34% dividend. In September Joseph Sawyer was appointed as a director and then chairman. In November William James Evison joined the business on a salary of £100pa.

In February 1893 there was a discussion about the old and extraneous plant. George Wadley was no longer a shareholder and was asked to relinquish his directorship, being replaced by Evison. In May 1893 they paid £875 for the Jolly Cricketers at Seer Green. In June the second AGM reported a profit of £2990, as a result of problems from the agricultural depression. They were to spend £564 for repairs to the brewery and houses, including plans to rebuild the Rose & Crown.

In 1894 the representative for Messrs Pontifex & Wood came up with suggestions for improvements to the brewery plant and they agreed to spend £130 on the work. In April they also paid £30 for a new malt mill. Despite the investment, sales to year end 31st May 1895 were down, as were profits at £2820.

In 1901 Aaron was a retired broker living in Hastings. In 1902 they invested in new staging for the fermenting room and paid £840 for the Star, Beaconsfield. In November they were to invest £2000 in the 5% preference shares of Charles Bunting Ltd brewers Uttoxeter, being allocated £1000. Sawyer was also chairman of the latter firm. Aaaron Williams died on 25th January 1904, but his son and executor Thomas Christopher John does not seem to have taken any active interest in the business. In November 1904 they bought a carbonator and bottling machine, around this time they also supplied bottled Worthington & Co. Ltd.

In 1906 Edward Evison died. Trade was not so satisfactory, with profits of £1516.

In August they were considering the removal of the stone squares and also receiving estimates for a cask washer.

In 1908 chilling and bottling plant was installed. The Royal Standard at Colnbrook was due to be closed for compensation and in 1909 licences refused included:

• Ship Marlow

• Cricketers Stokenchurch

• Stag Wooburn Green

n June 1914 at the Watlington Brewery sale they bought the Coach & Horses for £650 and the Five Alls at Stokenchurch for £425. In November 1916 Canning & Sons of Windsor wrote to say they would not require any more porter. Mr Van Ooteghen was taking 30 barrels per week to the station at 36s and 1038 gravity. This was possibly for Army canteens, but there were problems with the gravity which turned out to be 1036 and he would prefer 1044. They also supplied 60 barrels to James Aitken & Co (Falkirk) Ltd of Edinburgh and 150 barrels of 1042OG at 53s to Allsopp & Sons Ltd.

n May 1918 there were disciplinary problems with loading out and delivery. September 1919 saw them looking to purchase a second-hand boiler. In July 1920 they were analysing the trade from 1914 and noted that there were problems with paying debenture interest, nevertheless they found £825 for the Rose Bush at Penn. They also paid £1250 to ABC for the Great Western at Wooburn Green.

In 1920 H Vaughan was shown as the MD.

In 1921 the Stag was again up for compensation and closed by January 1923. On 22nd March 1926 at an EGM the 1300 ordinary shares of £10 each were agreed to be sub-divided to £1. There figures do not match the initial authorisation, so presumably there had already been previous changes. There were also changes to the reserves, with £6500 being capitalised and distributed to the shareholders. Vaughan had the largest single holding of 4490 shares. In November they were again looking at the trade figures.

The year end in May 1927 showed a £3379 profit. On 21st July, the Wethered & Sons Ltd Board decided to offer up to £70000 for the business and on 8th August made an offer of £3 for the shares. It was bought on 17th October and a new board formed, although Vaughan remained as the secretary. The purchase included some 35 tied houses, properties worth £75 000 in 1929. In the October, Wethered & Sons Ltd were looking to dispose of the brewery site.

On 26 June 1928 an EGM agreed to wind up the business.