Aldermaston Brewery

Aldermaston Brewery was a regional English brewery established in 1770 at Aldermaston Wharf, near Aldermaston in Berkshire. Its location beside the Kennet and Avon Canal provided a practical setting for receiving raw materials and distributing beer to nearby communities and public houses. The brewery was part of the traditional network of small and medium-sized British breweries that combined beer production with ownership or leasing of licensed premises. The business was acquired by Thomas Strange in 1833 and subsequently became associated with the Strange family. William Jeffreys Strange operated the brewery until 1902, after which management passed to John J. Strange. In 1910, the enterprise was incorporated as W.J. Strange & Sons, reflecting the formal company structure used by many established family breweries during the period. The brewery was also known as Strange's Brewery in its later history. Its commercial activity centered on supplying local pubs with traditional beers, including ale and stout. The brewery supplied The Stocks public house in Beenham and maintained relationships with other licensed premises in the surrounding area. In 1922, the company expanded its tied-estate interests by purchasing The Bladebone in Chapel Row for £3,500. The pub stood on part of the Bucklebury estate, from which the brewery already rented approximately 16 acres of land. This purchase illustrates the importance of pub ownership and estate control to the business model of regional breweries at the time. Aldermaston Brewery continued operating until 1945, when it was bought by Scrace's Brewery of Southampton. Brewing at the Aldermaston site ended following the acquisition. In 1950, the business was acquired again, this time by Strong's of Romsey. The former brewery site was subsequently demolished. The location was later redeveloped as part of the expansion of Aldermaston Wharf in 1995. The brewery is therefore remembered primarily as a local Berkshire brewing enterprise with roots extending from the eighteenth century into the post-war period. Although no longer active and no longer represented by a current beer range, its history reflects the development of canal-side brewing, family ownership, tied public houses, and the consolidation of regional breweries during the twentieth century.

Aldermaston Brewery was established in 1770 at Aldermaston Wharf, beside the Kennet and Avon Canal in Berkshire. The canal-side position connected the brewery to a transport route serving local settlements and commercial premises. As with many regional breweries, its business combined production with distribution to public houses and involvement in licensed-property ownership. Thomas Strange bought the brewery in 1833, beginning the period in which the enterprise became closely identified with the Strange family. William Jeffreys Strange operated the business until 1902. John J. Strange then managed it, and in 1910 the undertaking was registered as W.J. Strange & Sons. The brewery was subsequently commonly referred to as Strange's Brewery. The business supplied traditional beer to local public houses. Its documented products included ale and stout, and its customers included The Stocks in Beenham. The brewery also developed a tied-estate presence. In 1922, Strange's bought The Bladebone at Chapel Row for £3,500. The pub was associated with land forming part of the Bucklebury estate, of which the brewery already rented a 16-acre area. This transaction shows how the brewery used public-house ownership and land relationships to support the sale of its products. The brewery remained in operation until 1945. It was then bought by Scrace's Brewery of Southampton, and brewing at Aldermaston stopped. The business changed ownership again in 1950 when Strong's of Romsey acquired it. The brewery buildings were demolished after the site ceased to function as a brewing plant. In 1995, the former site was built over during the expansion of Aldermaston Wharf. The available historical record does not identify a surviving product brand, current successor operation, or modern corporate entity trading under the Aldermaston Brewery name. Its significance lies in its long local history, its association with the Strange family, its canal-side location, and its role in the regional tied-house brewing system before post-war brewery consolidation.

1. 1995Former site redeveloped

   The former brewery site was built upon as part of the expansion of Aldermaston Wharf.

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2. 1950Acquisition by Strong's of Romsey

   Strong's of Romsey acquired the former brewery business.

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3. 1945Acquisition by Scrace's Brewery and end of production

   Scrace's Brewery of Southampton bought the business, and brewing at Aldermaston ended.

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4. 1922The Bladebone purchased

   Strange's acquired The Bladebone public house in Chapel Row, strengthening its local tied-estate interests.

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5. 1910W.J. Strange & Sons incorporated

   The family brewery was registered as the limited-liability company W.J. Strange & Sons.

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6. 1902Management passed from William Jeffreys Strange

   William Jeffreys Strange's period of operation ended, and John J. Strange subsequently managed the business.

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7. 1833Thomas Strange acquired the brewery

   Thomas Strange purchased the brewery, beginning its long association with the Strange family.

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8. 1770Brewery established at Aldermaston Wharf

   A brewery was established beside the Kennet and Avon Canal near Aldermaston in Berkshire.

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A local and regional Berkshire brewery serving traditional ale and stout through nearby public houses and a tied-estate network.

• AleBeer

  Ale was part of the brewery's traditional product range. The available record identifies the brewery as a local supplier rather than documenting named proprietary labels, recipes, or packaging formats. Its ale was distributed through nearby public houses, including premises connected with the brewery's local trade.

• StoutBeer

  Stout was another documented beer type produced or supplied by the brewery. No surviving specification or named flagship stout is identified in the available reference material. Production ended when brewing ceased after the 1945 acquisition by Scrace's Brewery.

• 1945Sale to Scrace's BreweryM&A

  After operating for more than a century under the Strange family connection, the brewery entered a period of ownership change.

  What changed. Scrace's Brewery of Southampton acquired the business and stopped brewing at the Aldermaston site.

  Aftermath. The acquisition ended Aldermaston-based production. Strong's of Romsey acquired the business in 1950, and the brewery site was later demolished.

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• 1922Expansion of the tied-estate network through The BladeboneStrategy

  Regional breweries commonly supported beer sales through ownership or control of public houses. Strange's already had a relationship with land connected to the Bucklebury estate and acquired The Bladebone in Chapel Row.

  What changed. The company purchased The Bladebone for £3,500 and continued operating within a local network of licensed premises.

  Aftermath. The purchase strengthened the brewery's presence in the local pub trade, although the later record does not provide detailed operating results.

  Purchase price. £3,500 purchase price (1922)

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• 1995Former brewery site redeveloped at Aldermaston Wharf

  The former brewery location was built upon during the expansion of Aldermaston Wharf.

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• 1950Former brewery acquired by Strong's of Romsey

  Strong's of Romsey acquired the business after the Aldermaston brewery had stopped production.

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• 1945Strange's Brewery acquired by Scrace's Brewery and brewing ended

  The brewery was purchased by Scrace's Brewery of Southampton, after which production at Aldermaston ceased.

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1. Aldermaston Brewery