| Description | Circular, dated 14 June 1927, from Smith Garrett and Co. Ltd of Bow Brewery, to debenture stockholders, preference shareholders and ordinary shareholders of the Company re purchase of the brewery by Messrs. Taylor Walker and Co. Ltd., enclosing scheme of arrangement, notice of meetings of debenture stockholders, holders of preference shares and holders of ordinary shares, and form of proxy to be used for the meeting of ordinary shareholders partially filled in by Agnes Alleguen of 6 Kings Avenue, Ealing.
Printed letter from Smith Garrett and Co. Ltd., 3 August 1927, to holders of preference and ordinary shares of the Company; and notice, 3 August 1927, of an extraordinary general meeting of the Company on 27 August 1927. |
| AdminHistory | After being run by a series of partnerships, the brewery at Bow Bridge became Smith Garrett in 1869. The company began operations in 1752 as Hodgson's Brewery, from where it enjoyed fruitful commercial dealings with the East India Company (1). Taylor Walker took over in 1927 (2).
In preparation for the takeover, a Scheme of Arrangement was sanctioned between Smith Garrett and its shareholders. The scheme facilitated the sale of assets and undertaking to Taylor Walker for £905,000 (3). £30,000 (4) would be paid to the company, to compensate the directors for loss of office and the staff for loss of employment (5).
Taylor Walker was based at the Barley Mow Brewery, having been run by a series of partnerships. The brewery was rebuilt in 1889. It was acquired by Ind Coope in 1959, with a network of pubs and off-licences (6). Brewing operations ceased in 1960. Later the Taylor Walker name was adapted as a brand by the Spirit Pub Company, and then by Greene King.
During a presentation speech, Sidney Parkhurst, the new brewery's Managing Director told his audience that 'the old firm and its tenants were lucky to be merged into such a firm...they would find that the directors were kindheartedness itself' (7). The closure of Smith Garrett was, he explained, 'inevitable' (8). Amalgamations in the brewing industry were designed for 'cutting down overheads to enable the shareholders to get a proper return for their money' (9). He had no fear 'for the future of anyone connected with the new combine' (10). Taylor Walker shut the brewery shortly afterwards. After its demolition in 1933, London County Council flats were built on the site.
Sources of information:
1. 'Hodgson's Brewery, Bow and The Birth of IPA' in breweryhistory.com
2. 'Smith Garrett and Co., Ltd' in breweryhistory.com
3. £905,000 in 1927 is worth approximately £58,141,222.22 in 2020 : Bank of England Inflation Calculator
4. £30,000 in 1927 is worth approximately £1,927,333,33 in 2020 : Bank of England Inflation Calculator
5. 'Compensation For Bow Brewery Staff' : p.5 in East London Observer, Saturday 16th July 1927
6. 'Taylor Walker and Co. Ltd' in breweryhistory.com
7/8/9/10. 'Bow Brewery Presentation' : p.5 in East London Observer, Saturday 27th August 1927
(References 5 and 7-10 : British Newspaper Archive) |