W Smith Brewery Blackburn

Object/Artifact

-

Waterperry Museum

Name/Title

W Smith Brewery Blackburn

Entry/Object ID

2025.1.398

Description

W. Smith Brewery Beer Barrel; Brass collar

Context

The W. Smith Brewery in Blackburn has a rich history, dating back to the late 19th century. It was established by William Smith, who had previously worked with his brothers at the original Smith's Brewery in Tadcaster. After a disagreement, William Smith opened a rival plant in Blackburn. This new brewery eventually became known as W. Smith Brewery. Here's a more detailed look at the W. Smith Brewery's history: 1847: John Smith established the original Smith's Brewery in Tadcaster, later inherited by his brother William. Late 19th Century: William Smith, after a disagreement with his family, established the W. Smith Brewery in Blackburn, a rival to the family's original brewery. Early 20th Century: The brewery flourished under the Smith family's management and became a prominent local brewery. 1970: John Smith's Brewery (the original Tadcaster brewery) was taken over by Courage, who then extended distribution into the South of England. 1995: Courage was acquired by Scottish & Newcastle. 2008: The operations were purchased by Heineken. Present: The W. Smith Brewery in Blackburn continues to operate as a smaller, independent brewery, though its history is intertwined with the broader story of the Smith family and the brewing industry. Source breweryhistory.com

Category

Breweries and Brewing

Acquisition

Accession

2025.1

Source or Donor

Gordon Dempster

Acquisition Method

Transfer

Location

* Untyped Location

C11S1