Strangeways Brewery at beer Collections

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European Breweries History: Strangeways Brewery (Henry Boddington and Son)

Manchester is situated in the North West of England and is the UK's third largest city after London and Birmingham. Before it was famous for Boddingtons, Manchester was famous for cotton and for being one of the key centres for the Industrial Revolution of the 18th century. Thomas Caister and Thomas Fray decided to build the Strangeways Brewery on a site that was at the time just outside of the city of Manchester to the north of the River Irwell. The site was chosen because its location would mean that they would be able to avoid the tax on grain levied by the local government.

Henry Boddington was born in 1813, and at the age of 19 was employed as a "traveller" for the Strangeways Brewery, rising rapidly to become a partner in the Brewery, which was renamed John Harrison and Company. As Henry moved towards the end of his life, his son Henry Junior became involved and the Brewery is renamed Henry Boddington and Son.

In 1908 Robert Boddington becomes chairman and the technological development of the brewery continues. In the 1920's a bottling hall is installed and aluminium vessels are situated, replacing machinery driven by pulleys and one large flywheel. The Great Depression of the 1930's is quickly followed by the 2nd World War. The Brewery does not escape the horror of war - on the night of December 22 1940 German bombers knock.

The continued success of the Brewery means that the national brewers are looking to get involved in its business. Boddingtons signed a trading agreement with Whitbread and in 1971 Alex Bennet, a Whitbread Board member, also became a member of the Board at Boddingtons. The Boddingtons family sold the beer brand and the Brewery to Whitbread in 1989. In May 2000 the Whitbread Beer Company became part of Interbrew, the Belgian brewer famous for it's classic beers, and it is now known as Interbrew UK Ltd.

Strangeway's Brewery

Now Part of: Interbrew UK Ltd.