Records of the Broughton Brewery Ltd, Biggar, South Lanarkshire, Scotland

Scope and Content

  • Product sales literature c1996;
  • Posters c1980s and c1996;
  • Headed notepaper 1989;
  • Beer mats (unlisted);
  • Labels c1980s and 1996;
  • Pumpclips 1990s;
  • Presscuttings 1995-2001;
  • Calendar 1988;
  • Photographs, late 20th century.

Administrative / Biographical History

Broughton Brewery Ltd (Company No. SC069119) was founded in 1979 by David Younger (a descendent of Robert Younger, the Edinburgh brewer) and James Collins (a member of the Scottish publishing family). The brewery is situated in South Lanarkshire, Scotland, five miles from the town of Biggar. The flagship brand, Greenmantle Ale, was devised by Stirling Gardiner, former head brewer at William Younger & Co Ltd, Edinburgh, Scotland.

In 1995 the company went into receivership, but was saved and bought as a going concern by Giles Litchfield, a farmer and owner of Whim Ales, a micro brewery at Hartington, Buxton, Derbyshire, England. The company was newly registered as a private limited company under the name of Broughton Ales Ltd (Company No. SC159755) on 14 August 1995 and the order to wind up Broughton Brewery Ltd was made on 6 December 1999.

In 2001 the company produced an output of c5,000 barrels, 70 percent of which was sold in bottled format and the company employed 14 staff. In the same year c200 Scottish outlets were supplied directly by the company and wholesalers distributed Broughton ales both in cask and bottled format to outlets further afield. 46 percent of the company's output went to supermarkets in the United Kingdom and 12 percent was exported to the USA, Canada, Japan, Scandinavia and other countries in central Europe. Broughton Ale Ltd produces Black Douglas Ale, Border Gold, Broughton Best, Clipper's IPA, 80/- Ale, The Ghillie, Greenmantle Ale, Merlin's Ale Old Jock Ale, Scottish Oatmeal Stout and a number of seasonal ales. The distinctive bottle labels were designed by Harry Griffith.

Source: Smith, Gavin D. "The Scottish Beer Bible. The Essential Guide to Over 150 Scottish Beers and Lagers" (Edinburgh: Mercat, 2001)

Clark, Ron. "Showing Your Liquid Assets. Broughton Brewer of Greenmantle Ales Goes Online" in "The Herald" (Saturday 25 August 2001)

Public relations records (BN 12/1)

Companies House website http://www.companieshouse.gov.uk

Arrangement

The material is arranged according to the Scottish Brewing Archive classification scheme used within all SBA collections.

Access Information

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Acquisition Information

Broughton Brewery and collected by the Scottish Brewing Archive

Other Finding Aids

See also University of Glasgow Collections

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Alternative Form Available

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Conditions Governing Use

Applications for permission to quote should be sent to the Scottish Brewing ArchivistReproduction subject to usual conditions: educational use and condition of documents

Appraisal Information

This material has been appraised in line with standard GB 248 procedures

Custodial History

Custody of the Scottish Brewing Archive was transferred to Glasgow University Archive Services in 2008.

Accruals

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Related Material

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Location of Originals

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