Records of Edinburgh United Breweries Ltd, brewers, Edinburgh, Scotland

• Amalgamation and liquidation papers 1934-1936;
• Directors' annual reports and accounts to shareholders 1924 and 1926;
• Shareholding records 1889;
• Financial records 1903-1908;
• Production records 1908;
• Appointments and contracts of employment 1907;
• Correspondence related to staff issues 1928;
• Promotional material 1900-1914;
• Public relations records 1897 and 1983;
• Family tree 1785-1878 of the Disher Family;
• Biographical notes on William Stewart c1900;
• Photographs 1900-1920s;
• Historical notes 1922-1990.

Bell's Brewery, 40 Pleasance, Edinburgh.  Edinburgh United Breweries Ltd was registered as a limited liability company in December 1889 to take over four Edinburgh brewing businesses: Robert Disher & Co, Edinburgh and Leith Brewery; Ritchie & Son, Bell's Brewery, Pleasance; Robin, MacMillan & Co, Summerhall Brewery, East Meadows; and David Nicolson, Palace Brewery, Abbey Mount, at a purchase price of GBP 320,000.

The Summerhall Brewery was subsequently sold. Bell's Brewery ceased to brew in 1934, being closed down by Customs and Excise due to irregularities in brewing, and was acquired by John Jeffrey & Co Ltd, Edinburgh. Court orders were issued in 1934 to wind up the company which was finally dissolved in 1943.

Source: Richmond, Lesley and Turton, Alison (eds). "The Brewing Industry. A Guide to Historical Records" (Manchester and New York: Manchester University Press, 1990)

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

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

Secretary of the Brewers' Association of Scotland

See also University of Glasgow Collections

File level list available in searchroom

No known copies of this material

Applications for permission to quote should be sent to the Archivist Reproduction subject to usual conditions: educational use and condition of documents

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

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.

None expected

• GB 248 JA: Records of John Aitchison & Co Ltd;
• GB 248 GR: Records of George Ritchie & Son;
• GB 248 JJ: Records of John Jeffrey & Co Ltd;
• GB 248 FL: Papers of James Fleming;
• GB 248 PB: Records of Palace Brewery;
• GB 248 ARTEFACTS: Scottish Brewing Archive Artefacts Collection.

This material is original