View source for West Country Breweries 'Castle' Plaques

[[File:GuitingPowerFoxhill2006_BHK_Apr2006.jpg|thumb|Guiting Power, Glos]]
[[File:MangotsfieldSalutation2012aaa_BHK_Mar12.jpg|thumb|Salutation, Mangotsfield, Glos]]

'''<big>West Country Breweries 'Castle' Plaques</big>'''

'''[[West Country Breweries Ltd]]'''

Cheltenham and Hereford Breweries Ltd was formed as a result of a merger in 1945. West Country Breweries Ltd was the name adopted following the merger of The Cheltenham and Hereford Breweries with The Stroud Brewery Co Ltd in 1958. The company was acquired by Whitbread and Co Ltd in 1963. 

These magnificent plaques with the castle trademark were manufactured by Doultons of Lambeth (information from Dr Lynn Pearson). They were originally installed by the Cheltenham and Hereford Breweries Ltd and a plaque of that company remains at the former Foxhill Inn at Guiting Power, Gloucestershire (as illustrated).

Following the creation of West Country Breweries Ltd, similar plaques with the castle trademark and 'WEST COUNTRY ALES' were widely installed, and are still quite prevalent in the West Country. These were installed from 1958 until about 1967, including a few years under Whitbread ownership.

Geoff Sandles possesses a wealth of information on breweries and pubs in Gloucestershire and has a website – www.gloucestershirepubs.co.uk.

===In Gloucestershire===

<gallery>
File:AmpneyRedLion2009aa_BInman_Jul09.jpg|The Red Lion, Ampney
File:BristolPalaceHotel2009a_SP_May2009.jpg|Palace Hotel, Bristol, 2009
File:BristolPalaceHotel2017cc_SP_Apr17.jpg|Palace Hotel, Bristol, 2017
File:DursleyOldSpot2007a_SRH_Aug07.jpg|Old Spot, Dursley
File:GuitingPowerFoxhill2006_BHK_Apr2006.jpg|The former Foxhill, Guiting Power
File:LechladeCrown2009aa_BInman_Aug09.jpg|The Crown, Lechlade
File:LydneyManchurian2004_Eley_2004.jpg|Manchurian, Lydney
File:MangotsfieldSalutation2012aa_BHK_Mar12.jpg|Salutation, Mangotsfield
</gallery>

===In Herefordshire===

<gallery>
File:WigmoreOldeOak2007aa_BHK_July2007.JPG|The Olde Oak, Wigmore: a Cheltenham & Hereford plaque set in the pavement - believed removed
File:WigmoreOldeOak2007bb_BHK_July2007.JPG|The Olde Oak, Wigmore: plaques believed removed
File:KingtonCastle2008_SRH_Oct08.jpg|The Castle, Kington
File:KingtonQueensHead2008_SRH_Oct08.jpg|The Queens Head, Kington
File:LeominsterThreeHorseshoes2006aa_GS_Sep2006.jpg|Three Horseshoes, Leominster: 'Castle' on the pub sign
File:LeominsterThreeHorseshoes2022aa_TrC_June22.jpg|Three Horseshoes, Leominster
File:NortonCanonThreeHorseshoes2008_SRH_Oct2008.jpg|Three Horseshoes, Norton Canon
File:UpperColwallChaseInn2010aa_SP_Set2010.jpg|Chase Inn, Upper Colwall
File:UpperColwallChaseInn2010aaa_SP_Set2010.jpg|Chase Inn, Upper Colwall
</gallery>

===In Wiltshire===

<gallery>
File:BiddestoneBiddestoneArms2012aa_BHK_Apr2012.jpg|Biddestone Arms, Biddestone
File:MarlboroughWellington2008aa_BInman_17May2008.jpg|Wellington, Marlborough
File:MarlboroughWellington2008bb_BInman_17May2008.jpg|Wellington, Marlborough
File:MarlboroughWellington2023a_JSe.jpg|Wellington, Marlborough
File:MarlboroughWellington2023b_JSe.jpg|Wellington, Marlborough
File:WoottonRiversRoyalOak2012bb_BHK_Apr2012.jpg|Royal Oak, Wootton Rivers
File:WoottonRiversRoyalOak2012aa_BHK_Apr2012.jpg|Royal Oak, Wootton Rivers
</gallery>

===In Worcestershire===

<gallery>
File:DroitwichRingOBells2013aa_SP_May2013.jpg|Ring O Bells, Droitwich
File:DroitwichRingOBells2013bb_SP_May2013.jpg|Ring O Bells, Droitwich
File:EveshamAngel_TN2004.jpg|Angel, Evesham
File:HoneybourneGate2011aa_BHK_Apr2011.jpg|Gate Inn, Honeybourne
File:MalvernLinkRoyalOak2010aa_SP_Sep2010.jpg|Royal Oak, Malvern Link
File:MalvernLinkRoyalOak2010aaa_SP_Sep2010.jpg|Royal Oak, Malvern Link
File:NorthMalvernHouse2010aa_SP_Sep2010.jpg|North Malvern House
File:NorthMalvernHouse2010aaa_SP_Sep2010.jpg|North Malvern House
File:PershoreAngel2007aa_BHK_July2007.jpg|Angel Inn, Pershore
File:PershoreAngel2013aa_SP_May2013.jpg|Angel Inn, Pershore
File:PershoreAngel2013bb_SP_May2013.jpg|Angel Inn, Pershore
File:PershoreAngel2013cc_SP_May2013.jpg|Angel Inn, Pershore
File:PershoreAngel2013dd_SP_May2013.jpg|Angel Inn, Pershore
File:PershoreMillers2013aa_SP_May2013.jpg|Millers, Pershore
File:PershoreMillers2013bb_SP_May2013.jpg|Millers, Pershore
File:WorcesterGunTavern2008_BHK_July08.jpg|Gun Tavern, Worcester
File:WorcesterGunTavern2013aa_SP_May2013.jpg|Gun Tavern, Worcester
File:WorcesterGunTavern2013bb_SP_May2013.jpg|Gun Tavern, Worcester
File:WorcesterGunTavern2013cc_SP_May2013.jpg|Gun Tavern, Worcester
File:WorcesterWashington2008_BHK_July2008.jpg|Washington, Worcester
File:WribbenhallRedLion2009aa_BI_Aug2009.jpg|Red Lion, Wribbenhall
File:WribbenhallRedLion2009aaa_BI_Aug2009.jpg|Red Lion, Wribbenhall
</gallery>