Benjamin Bennett was involved in a number of breweries in Luton, Harpenden and Redbourn. The North Western Brewery was purchased from Cutler & Henceman in 1887 and acquired by Mann, Crossman & Paulin in 1938.
Family Ale earliest labels
India Pale Ale earliest labels
Light Dinner Ale earliest labels
Nourishing Stout earliest labels
Brown Ale 1930s
XXXX Special 1930s
On a walk last Tuesday, I found the neck of a beer bottle sticking out of a bank along a country lane near the village of St Paul’s Walden in Hertfordshire.
Out of curiosity, I pulled it out of the earth and found that it was a complete old beer bottle with a ‘label’ with wording ‘Benj Bennett DUNSTABLE’ embossed inside an oval into the glass.
I assume it would have originally come from the local pub, the Strathmore Arms.
There doesn’t seem to be much on the internet about Benjamin Bennett brewers on the internet.
Does anyone know much about them, ie how long they were in business, as it would be interesting to know how old the bottle might be?
Hello Jason,
Glad you got in touch in reference to the bottle you found.
It could well be that the bottle originated at the Benjamin Bennett, Harpenden Brewery, High Street, Hertfordshire. This Brewery was established c1800 by James Curtis and was owed by the Healey family of Watford from 1853, Around 1872 Benjamin Bennett of Dunstable leased the brewery and continued until 1893 when it was acquired by Mardall’s Peacock Brewery. Bennett owned the porter brewery at Chamber’s Yard, Dunstable from around 1839 and was partners in or associated with via lease several other breweries. After Benjamin’s death, the business continued under the direction of his Executors until the business was acquired by Mann, Crossman & Paulin Ltd in 1938 along with 59 pubs. (This information is referenced from publication of the Brewery History Society and as well as other publications)
Mardall’s Peacock brewery was leasing the Strathmore Arms in 1905, so it is quite likely that the lease of the pub was inherited by Mardall’s from Bennett’s, and that is why the bottle was found where it was. Pretty amazing that it survived in situ for almost 125 years, though.