Classified telephone Directory for Birmingham & District, October 1934 - Brewers, Bottlers Bricks & tiles
The GPO, in charge of the majority of the UK's telephone network for most of the 20th century, authorised the issue of 'classified trade directories' known as "Buff Books", forerunners of today's 'Yellow Pages'. This is a scan of the page BRA-BRO of the October 1934 Birmingham District edition - covering much of the Black Country (Wolverhampton, Walsall, Dudley, Kidderminster & West Bromwich) it is a treasure trove of the UK's industrial past!
The page has two fascinating classifications - brewers and brick & tile manufacturers. The brewers include some of the big names in national brewing, such as Mitchells & Butlers, as well as the large and now lost bigger independents such as Ansells, Dares and Davenports. Amongst the others listed are some long lost small scale brewers such as Showells of Langley - and one or two who survive such as Batham's of Brierley Hill. One name does stand out - that of the Wolverhampton & Dudley Breweries who have survived and prospered, now known as Marston's.
The brick and tile companies show just how widespread the industry was, closely allied to the coal mining especially in South Staffordshire - like the Hamstead Brick Company whose works were connected by aerial ropeway to the adjacent Hamstead Colliery.
Classified telephone Directory for Birmingham & District, October 1934 - Brewers, Bottlers Bricks & tiles
The GPO, in charge of the majority of the UK's telephone network for most of the 20th century, authorised the issue of 'classified trade directories' known as "Buff Books", forerunners of today's 'Yellow Pages'. This is a scan of the page BRA-BRO of the October 1934 Birmingham District edition - covering much of the Black Country (Wolverhampton, Walsall, Dudley, Kidderminster & West Bromwich) it is a treasure trove of the UK's industrial past!
The page has two fascinating classifications - brewers and brick & tile manufacturers. The brewers include some of the big names in national brewing, such as Mitchells & Butlers, as well as the large and now lost bigger independents such as Ansells, Dares and Davenports. Amongst the others listed are some long lost small scale brewers such as Showells of Langley - and one or two who survive such as Batham's of Brierley Hill. One name does stand out - that of the Wolverhampton & Dudley Breweries who have survived and prospered, now known as Marston's.
The brick and tile companies show just how widespread the industry was, closely allied to the coal mining especially in South Staffordshire - like the Hamstead Brick Company whose works were connected by aerial ropeway to the adjacent Hamstead Colliery.