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Dorset Breweries Lost



Some breweries are cherishingly remembered while others are now forgotten:

Eldridge Pope of Dorchester. Founded in 1837 by Charles and Sarah Eldridge, a new brewery was built near the railway line in 1880. Edwin Pope had joined in 1870 and was followed by his brother Alfred. The Huntsman  trademark (featured) was shared with Leeds based brewer, Joshua Tetley. Thomas Hardy Ale, a strong barley wine, was one their most famous beers. Eldridge Pope closed in 2003 and the site was sold to a property company.

Bournemouth Brewery was founded at 117 Holdenhurst Road in 1858 in association with Heath Poult Inn.  One of its owners was a Mrs Hilda G  Ogden. The brewery was bought by Strong of Romsey in 1925 and survived just as a depot until 1973 when the site was redeveloped.

Devenish of Weymouth. Originally the Flew Brewery, it was bought by William Devenish in 1824. In 1931,  Major J Devenish’s home was burgled but the stolen silver was discovered the next day by schoolboy Len Jester. The Hope Square  brewery was badly  damaged in an air raid during World War II and two local competitors stepped in to help with production. Brewing ceased in 1985.

Dolphin Brewery of Poole. It was established in 1745 in a shed next to the Dolphin Inn. With Poole being a port and with strong links to the Newfoundland fishing trade, there was a healthy demand for its beers. By 1870, under John Marston, the brewery had acquired 70 pubs. Dolphin Brewery of Poole was bought by Strong and Co of Romsey and closed in 1928.

Matthews & Co of Gillingham. Dates from around 1850 when the Matthews family began brewing. They had pubs in North Dorset, Somerset and in South Wiltshire. The Matthew’s trade mark was a charging buffalo. The business was acquired by Hall & Woodhouse in 1963.

John Groves & Sons of Weymouth. Founded in 1840, the Hope Brewery was rebuilt in 1904. Owner Sir John Groves was Weymouth’s mayor and at Christmas would donate coal to the town’s poor. Acquired by Devenish & Co in 1960 together with their 115 pubs. 

J L Marsh & Sons of Blandford. Based in White Cliff Mill Street, owner John Lewis Marsh was a master of publicity. Tongue in cheek, he claimed drinking his beer was the key to everlasting life. Acquired by Reading brewers, H G Symonds in 1939.

Sherborne Brewery was founded in 1796 but by 1887 had been renamed the Dorsetshire Brewery. They were taken over by Yeovil’s Britton, Mitchell & Toms in 1951.

Crown Brewery in Fontmell Magna was founded in 1780 and in 1889 Shroton Brewery was acquired. Crown Brewery ceased brewing in 1904 when their 19 pubs were sold to eight different brewers.

(Credit: Brewing in Dorset [2016] by Tim Edgell & Mike Bone.)

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