Watford's breweries (From Watford Observer)

Watford's breweries

11:17am Tuesday 16th June 2009 in

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The brewery industry in Watford was the subject of an email from Mrs BM Hawes, from Croxley Green.

Mrs Hawes, of Canterbury Way, said: “My father, Reginald Norton, was employed as a brewer throughout his working life.

“He started at Sedgewick’s Brewery, in Lower High Street, where his father was a brewer and his great uncle had been head brewer.

“Sedgewick’s was taken over by Benskins in 1923 and my father became one of a team of four brewers. He was a member of the brewery fire brigade, and this training was put to good use in World War Two, when he was called upon to supervise brewery fire drills, operating pump hoses and escape chutes, and taking his turn on fire watch duty.

Did any readers work for the fire brigade at one of Watford’s breweries? Does anyone recognise the firefighter in this photograph?

“Twice a week he was up at 5am to start the ‘mash’, and at Christmas and Easter there was always an extra brew at midnight in anticipation of the holiday demand.

“Benskins had a cricket ground in Water Lane, and my father regularly played for the brewery team. The ground was also the scene of the 1937 coronation celebrations, when a lunch was held, followed by a family sports day, and I remember taking part in a girls’ race.

“In 1949, the brewery held its golden jubilee celebrations at Watford football ground – it consisted of music by the Royal Artillery Band, a luncheon and concert party entertainment, the latter including a lady billed as ‘a musical act with bells and a carpenter’s saw’.

“In 1957, Benskins was taken over by Ind Coope & Allsopp, and four years later merged with other breweries to become Allied Breweries. My father felt that the family feel and identity of Benskins had been lost. He retired in July 1965.”