Simonds' Brewery
Encyclopedia
H & G Simonds Ltd was a brewery
founded in Reading, Berkshire
, England in 1785 by William Blackall Simonds. The company amalgamated with Courage & Barclay in 1960, eventually becoming part of Scottish & Newcastle
. The brewing plant was moved from the town centre to the outskirts in 1980 and renamed the Berkshire Brewery, finally closing in March 2010.
in Reading by William Blackall Simonds
in 1785 (although his father had a brewing arm of his malting business as early as 1760).) The company moved to Seven Bridges
Street where it remained until 1978. The site is now occupied by The Oracle
shopping centre. Simonds became a very early limited company in 1885, taking the name of H & G Simonds from William's two sons, Henry and George. The latter was the father of a later director, George Blackall Simonds
, a sculptor. In 1960, the brewery amalgamated with Courage & Barclay to become Courage, Barclay, Simonds & Co Ltd until simplified to Courage Ltd in 1970. As Scottish Courage
, they operated from the Berkshire Brewery on the borders of Reading and Shinfield
, until it closed in March 2010.
and an early Boulton & Watt steam engine
. However, expansion was held back until legislation restricting the setting up of new public houses was repealed by the Beerhouse Act 1830. Since 1813, Simonds had supplied beer to the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
. In the 1850s, it expanded its reputation for supplying the military with beer, when nearby Aldershot
was established as the 'home of the British Army'. This led to branches being set up in Malta
and Gibraltar
. The former still exists as the, now independent, Simonds Farsons Cisk Brewery
. Simonds also supplied many of the railways in southern England. By the 1880s, Simonds was the largest brewery in Reading. After the First World War
, they expanded by acquisition, purchasing local breweries as well as others in places such as Bristol
and Devonport
. By 1938, Simonds' was producing just over one percent of all beer brewed in England and Wales.
in the 1830s, including India pale ale
which the company exported to the British army in India. In the 1870s, they developed a lighter beer called 'SB' (Season's Brew) and, in the following decade introduced a new system of fermentation known as the 'Burton Union Method'. Simonds were well-known for their 'hopleaf' branding and Hopleaf pale ale is still available from the Simonds Farsons Cisk Brewery in Malta. Simonds branded an "India Pale Ale" as "Tavern", the name originating as "Taverner's" in a competition for employees.
The brewery made extensive use of the canal to deliver its wares, but the railway was also an important form of transport.
Brewery
A brewery is a dedicated building for the making of beer, though beer can be made at home, and has been for much of beer's history. A company which makes beer is called either a brewery or a brewing company....
founded in Reading, Berkshire
Reading, Berkshire
Reading is a large town and unitary authority area in England. It is located in the Thames Valley at the confluence of the River Thames and River Kennet, and on both the Great Western Main Line railway and the M4 motorway, some west of London....
, England in 1785 by William Blackall Simonds. The company amalgamated with Courage & Barclay in 1960, eventually becoming part of Scottish & Newcastle
Scottish & Newcastle
Scottish & Newcastle plc was a "long alcoholic drinks" company with positions in 15 countries, including UK, France and Russia. It was headquartered in Edinburgh, Scotland, UK. In the last 20 years, S&N expanded significantly from its home base to become an international business with beer...
. The brewing plant was moved from the town centre to the outskirts in 1980 and renamed the Berkshire Brewery, finally closing in March 2010.
Corporate history
The Simonds brewery was founded in Broad StreetBroad Street, Reading
Broad Street is a main pedestrianised thoroughfare and the primary high street in the English town of Reading. The street is situated in the town centre, running for approximately , from west to east. The western end of the road lies at the crossroads with Oxford Road, West Street and St Mary's...
in Reading by William Blackall Simonds
William Blackall Simonds
William Blackall Simonds was a brewer and banker in the English town of Reading. He founded both Simonds' Brewery, a component of today's Scottish & Newcastle brewery business, and J & C Simonds Bank, one of the precursors to Barclays bank....
in 1785 (although his father had a brewing arm of his malting business as early as 1760).) The company moved to Seven Bridges
Seven Bridges, Reading
Seven Bridges was a street named after seven bridges over streams of the River Kennet in the town of Reading in the English county of Berkshire. It connected St Giles' Street with St Mary's Butts to the north...
Street where it remained until 1978. The site is now occupied by The Oracle
The Oracle, Reading
The Oracle is a large indoor shopping and leisure mall, located on the banks of the River Kennet on the site of a 17th century workhouse of the same name in the town of Reading in the English county of Berkshire...
shopping centre. Simonds became a very early limited company in 1885, taking the name of H & G Simonds from William's two sons, Henry and George. The latter was the father of a later director, George Blackall Simonds
George Blackall Simonds
George Blackall Simonds was an English sculptor and director of H & G Simonds Brewery in Reading in the English county of Berkshire....
, a sculptor. In 1960, the brewery amalgamated with Courage & Barclay to become Courage, Barclay, Simonds & Co Ltd until simplified to Courage Ltd in 1970. As Scottish Courage
Scottish & Newcastle
Scottish & Newcastle plc was a "long alcoholic drinks" company with positions in 15 countries, including UK, France and Russia. It was headquartered in Edinburgh, Scotland, UK. In the last 20 years, S&N expanded significantly from its home base to become an international business with beer...
, they operated from the Berkshire Brewery on the borders of Reading and Shinfield
Shinfield
Shinfield is a village and civil parish in the English county of Berkshire, just south of Reading. It contains and is administered by the unitary authority of Wokingham District.-Geography:...
, until it closed in March 2010.
Development
Simonds developed rapidly and, by the 1790s, had a fine new brewery complex designed by local architect, Sir John SoaneJohn Soane
Sir John Soane, RA was an English architect who specialised in the Neo-Classical style. His architectural works are distinguished by their clean lines, massing of simple form, decisive detailing, careful proportions and skilful use of light sources...
and an early Boulton & Watt steam engine
Steam engine
A steam engine is a heat engine that performs mechanical work using steam as its working fluid.Steam engines are external combustion engines, where the working fluid is separate from the combustion products. Non-combustion heat sources such as solar power, nuclear power or geothermal energy may be...
. However, expansion was held back until legislation restricting the setting up of new public houses was repealed by the Beerhouse Act 1830. Since 1813, Simonds had supplied beer to the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst , commonly known simply as Sandhurst, is a British Army officer initial training centre located in Sandhurst, Berkshire, England...
. In the 1850s, it expanded its reputation for supplying the military with beer, when nearby Aldershot
Aldershot
Aldershot is a town in the English county of Hampshire, located on heathland about southwest of London. The town is administered by Rushmoor Borough Council...
was established as the 'home of the British Army'. This led to branches being set up in Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
and Gibraltar
Gibraltar
Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance of the Mediterranean. A peninsula with an area of , it has a northern border with Andalusia, Spain. The Rock of Gibraltar is the major landmark of the region...
. The former still exists as the, now independent, Simonds Farsons Cisk Brewery
Simonds Farsons Cisk Brewery
Simonds Farsons Cisk is a brewery founded in Malta in 1928.-History:"The Malta Export Brewery" was created when the first privately-owned Maltese bank, established in 1840 by Giuseppe Scicluna, took over one of their client's operations in 1928...
. Simonds also supplied many of the railways in southern England. By the 1880s, Simonds was the largest brewery in Reading. After the First World War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, they expanded by acquisition, purchasing local breweries as well as others in places such as Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
and Devonport
Devonport, Devon
Devonport, formerly named Plymouth Dock or just Dock, is a district of Plymouth in the English county of Devon, although it was, at one time, the more important settlement. It became a county borough in 1889...
. By 1938, Simonds' was producing just over one percent of all beer brewed in England and Wales.
Beer
Simonds was a pioneer of pale alePale ale
Pale ale is a beer which uses a warm fermentation and predominantly pale malt. It is one of the world's major beer styles.The higher proportion of pale malts results in a lighter colour. The term "pale ale" was being applied around 1703 for beers made from malts dried with coke, which resulted in a...
in the 1830s, including India pale ale
India Pale Ale
India Pale Ale or IPA is a style of beer within the broader category of pale ale. It was first brewed in England in the 19th century.The first known use of the expression "India pale ale" comes from an advertisement in the Liverpool Mercury newspaper published January 30, 1835...
which the company exported to the British army in India. In the 1870s, they developed a lighter beer called 'SB' (Season's Brew) and, in the following decade introduced a new system of fermentation known as the 'Burton Union Method'. Simonds were well-known for their 'hopleaf' branding and Hopleaf pale ale is still available from the Simonds Farsons Cisk Brewery in Malta. Simonds branded an "India Pale Ale" as "Tavern", the name originating as "Taverner's" in a competition for employees.
The brewery made extensive use of the canal to deliver its wares, but the railway was also an important form of transport.