Records of Thomas Usher & Son Ltd, brewers, Edinburgh, Scotland

  • Reference
    • GB 248 TU
  • Dates of Creation
    • 1834-1980
  • Name of Creator
  • Language of Material
    • English
  • Physical Description
    • 7.70 linear metres

Scope and Content

  • Corporate records, 1895–1979;
  • Shareholding records, 1951–1979;
  • Letterbooks, 1868–1895;
  • Financial records, 1834–1981;
  • Production records, 1885–1980;
  • Sales records, 1919–1980;
  • Staff records, 1929–1934;
  • Licensed premises, records 1873–1959;
  • Property records, 1957–1980;
  • Public relations, 1950s–1975;
  • Photographs, 1920s–1970s.

Administrative / Biographical History

David Aikman & Co operated the Cowgate Brewery, Campbell's Close, Cowgate, Edinburgh, Scotland, from 1817 to 1828, followed by Hutchison, Aikman & Co from 1828 to 1831. The brewery was acquired in 1831 by James Usher & Cunningham, trading as Usher & Co from 1839 and J & T Usher from 1843. J & T Usher moved to the Park Brewery, St Leonard's Street, Edinburgh, in 1860. Thomas Usher & Son Ltd was registered in March 1895 as a limited liability company to acquire the business. The company, along with 170 licensed houses, was taken over by Vaux & Associated Breweries Ltd, Sunderland, England, in 1959. Its name changed to Usher's Brewery Ltd in 1972 and in 1976 it employed 2,500 people and operated 235 tied houses. The Park Brewery was operated by Lorimer's Brewery Ltd from 1976 and was acquired by Allied Breweries Ltd, London, in 1980. Usher's Brewery Ltd went into liquidation and the Park Brewery ceased brewing in 1981.

Arrangement

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

Access Information

Access to records within this collection is open, however an appointment may be required. Please email Archives and Special Collections for advice: library-asc@glasgow.ac.uk

Acquisition Information

Unknown.

Other Finding Aids

See also University of Glasgow Collections

File level list available in searchroom.

Alternative Form Available

No known copies of this material

Conditions Governing Use

Reproduction subject to usual conditions: educational use and condition of documents. Applications for permission to quote should be sent to Archives and Special Collections, please email: library-asc@glasgow.ac.uk

Appraisal Information

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

Custodial History

The collection was previously stored with the rest of the Scottish Brewing Archive at Heriot–Watt University. It moved to the University of Glasgow in 1991. Custody of the Scottish Brewing Archive was transferred to Glasgow University Archive Services in 2008.

Accruals

None expected.

Related Material

  • GB 248 DV: Records of Devanha Brewery Co Ltd;
  • GB 248 BFS: Records of Brewers' Food Supply Co Ltd;
  • GB 248 JW: Records of John Wright & Co;
  • GB 248 LC: Records of Lorimer & Clark Ltd;
  • GB 0205: Records of Vaux & Associated Breweries Ltd (West Yorkshire Archive Service, Leeds);
  • GB 0183 BAC: Records of Vaux Group plc (Tyne and Wear Archives Service);
  • GB 0033 D/Va: Records of Vaux Group plc (Durham County Record Office);
  • GB 802302 BAC: Records of Allied Breweries Ltd (private collection, see Richmond & Turton, 'The brewing industry', 1990Council, London,England).

Location of Originals

This material is original

Corporate Names

Geographical Names