Toothless in Burton: a History of the Crescent Brewery, Burton Upon

Toothless in Burton: A history of the Crescent Brewery, Burton upon Trent and in particular its association with the Tooth family of Cranbrook, Kent and Sydney, Australia Paul Bayley Introduction One of the earlier incomers in this 19th century industrial boom established what Over the past two centuries, Burton upon later became known as the Crescent Trent has been the home of many com- Brewery. The history of this brewery is mercial breweries, probably far more the subject of this paper. Whilst its than anywhere else of comparable size. foundation followed the general principal The number of these rose during the mid outlined above it had many unique fea- and late 19th century reaching a peak of tures, not least of which is its link to the 31 in the late 1880s. As well as those large and successful brewing family the founded by local entrepreneurs many Tooths. They originated in Kent, but were built or purchased by existing brew- arrived in Burton via Sydney, Australia.1 ers from outside the town as specialist This link, I believe, represents an early, if satellite breweries beers in support of unsuccessful, attempt at globalisation their existing and successful operations within the brewing industry. in London or other population centres. This investment was based on the expec- tation that a brewery in Burton would The Tooth family's background enable them to exploit the fashionable taste for Burton pale ale. Subsequently Late in the 18th century a man named almost all of these 31 breweries were John Tooth was a hatter in Cranbrook, closed or consolidated until, 120 years Kent. John was a successful tradesman later, only two of them are still operating. who, when he died, was particular in the Now, joined by a smattering of more way he shared his small estate amongst recently founded microbreweries, these his family. Of his children, two of his two survivors are capable of producing a sons, William and Robert, shared and greater volume than did the 31 breweries continued in hat making, although combined at their peak. apparently trading separately, but with 2 Journal of the Brewery History Society different degrees of success. William, Brewing in Kent when he died was merely designated as a hatter, but Robert seems to have The Tooth family's first link with a brewery achieved the rather more elevated status was recorded in 1827.3 This was at of hat manufacturer.2 We do not know if Baker's Cross in Cranbrook which, up to Robert Tooth (the hat manufacturer) mar- that time, had been operated by a Mr ried or had children, but several of James Youell who had become bankrupt William's children reached maturity. It is resulting in the brewery being auctioned two of these who primarily concern us; in October 1827.4,5 We do not know who Robert, born in 1799 and hereafter bought it, but it seems likely that it was referred to as Robert (Snr.) to distinguish some association between the Tooth and him from the five other Robert Tooths in Newnham families, headed by John this paper, and John, born 1802. Newnham, who was described as a timber merchant and brewer. Shortly Since so many Robert Tooths can very afterwards and perhaps not totally coinci- easily lead to confusion, in the interests dentally, since there had been political of clarity these Roberts and their relation- pressure for some time, the Beer Act of ships (and my suffixes) are listed below. 1830 freed up the beer market. Between Further clarification of their relationships 1829 and 1835 the rates on the brewery and those of other Tooth family members are reported as being paid by Newnham mentioned can be gained from the Tooth & Co. or Newnham and Tooth. John family tree overleaf. Newnham's son, Charles is recorded as Robert Tooth 1768-1840 (the hat manufacturer) Uncle to Robert Tooth (Snr.) Robert Tooth (Snr.) 1799-1867 Nephew of Robert Tooth (the hat manufacturer) Robert Tooth (of Wandsworth) Died 1869 1st cousin and Brother in Law to Robert Tooth (Snr.) Also Nephew to Robert Tooth (the hat manufacturer) Robert Tooth (Jnr.) 1821-1893 Eldest son of Robert Tooth (Snr.) Sir Robert Lucas-Tooth (bart.) 1844-1915 Nephew of Robert Tooth (Jnr.) and grandson of Robert Tooth (Snr.) Brewery History Number 134 3 Figure 1. Part of the Tooth family tree relevant to the Cresent Brewery, Burton. 4 Journal of the Brewery History Society Brewery History Number 134 5 living in the brewery house and was pre- ued to widen his business activities and sumably the practical brewer operating progressed into banking, ultimately the business. becoming a partner in Overend and Gurney. This was a major discount house In 1828 John Tooth, the younger son of for bills and bonds; in effect a Bank which William, went to Australia from where he became a major financial institution and, returned briefly in 1830 to marry in some respects, came to rival the Bank Elizabeth Newnham, John Newnham's of England.10 By the mid 1840s Robert daughter and Charles' sister.6 On their (Snr.) had become wealthy enough to return to Australia he continued to estab- outshine the local gentry of Cranbrook lish himself by operating cattle runs and purchasing, in 1847, the three storey as a general merchant and commission Queen Ann house and estate of Swifts agent in Spring Street, Sydney. Park. At this time it was a substantial property which, for a period up to 1820, William Tooth died in 18327 and, in 1833, had been owned by Major John Austen, a John Newnham negotiated additional relative of the famous Jane Austen.11 water rights for the Baker's Cross Robert Tooth (Snr.) had a large family, Brewery from a neighbouring farmer. nine sons and two daughters by his first However, only two years, later in 1835, it wife, followed by four daughters by his seems that Robert Tooth (Snr.) had second. Fanny, his second wife, was in become the sole owner of Baker's Cross fact his first cousin. She was the sister of Brewery.8 It is unlikely that this is totally another Robert Tooth (Robert Tooth of unconnected with the fact that in the Wandsworth), and the daughter of Robert same year John Tooth, in partnership (Snr's.) uncle Edward, the elder brother with Charles Newnham, open-ed a new of William Tooth.12,13 brewery, the Kent Brewery, on the Parramatta Road in Sydney, Australia. The first reference to the Tooths export- ing beer to Australia is in 1839 when, it Robert Snr. appears to have become is claimed, Robert Tooth (Snr.) exported something of a general businessman and beer from Baker's Cross.14 The beer entrepreneur and at some point, probably travelled to Maidstone by road, then by before gaining the benefits of owning a barge to the coast and finally by ship to successful brewery, he had developed Sydney where, no doubt, its sale was interests in hop growing. In 1841 he is managed by his brother, John. At some recorded as a hop merchant at 12, Little point, probably in 1841, Robert (Jnr.) took Tower Street, London, but it has not been over Robert (Snr.)'s. business as a hop possible to find details or corroboration merchant at 12, Little Tower Street and for the claim that in around 1843 he pur- exported hops, spirits and London and chased a second brewery, this time in Edinburgh ales to John Tooth in Sydney London.9 In the following years he contin- and also to J.P. Bilton in Hobart.15 6 Journal of the Brewery History Society Brewing in Australia Australia was to become an important market for U.K. beer brewers throughout The Tooths, both in Sydney and in the mid 19th century, particularly for Bass, London, were undoubtedly in close touch for which it was second only to India. with trends in the beer market, chief Bass had ten agents in Sydney as well as amongst them in the early 1840s would others in other Australian states. Some have been the rapidly increasing popular- time later, in 1873, the volume of cask ity of Burton pale ales. Burton beer, beer exported from the U.K. to all of already well known, had become more Australia was 57,000 barrels of which 7% readily available both across the U.K. came from Bass.18 and, after 1839, when the building of the Birmingham to Derby Railway through In 1843 there appears to have been a Burton on Trent was completed, for problem in the export of beer to John who export.16 The Tooths were proud of their was clearly having business difficulties.19 origins and emphasised Kent at every At the ages of 22 and 21, Robert (Snr's) opportunity, including the name of their two elder sons Robert (Jnr.) and Edwin Sydney brewery, the Kent Brewery, in went out to Australia together, and Robert brands such as Tooth's K.B., (that is (Jnr.) was commissioned to open busi- brewed at the Kent Brewery, Sydney) and ness with Messrs Deloitte. Also in 1843 later in the use of the rampant Kent horse Charles Newnham withdrew from his as their trade mark. However, even to partnership with John apparently having them, it must have been apparent that his own problems with another business beer imported into Australia from Kent, venture, Newnham's Soap Manufactury. and in particular from the obscure Problems did not end there; in 1844 Baker's Cross, would never have the John, over-extended by his pastoral cachet of that from Burton on Trent.

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