James Watney
Encyclopedia
James Watney was a brewer
and landowner who resided at Haling Park, Croydon
, and Beddington
, Surrey
. He was born to Daniel Watney (1771–1831) of Mitcham
, Surrey and Mary Galpin (1771–1830), daughter of James Galpin (died 1789) of Mitcham
, Surrey. He was the grandson of John Watney (1747–1814) and great-grandson of Daniel Watney (1705–1780) of Wimbledon
, Surrey.
of Pimlico
for much of the 19th century. In 1837, James Watney became a partner in the brewery with John Lettsom Elliot and Charles Lambert, as later did his sons James and Norman in 1856. The brewery was known as Elliot, Watney & Co from about 1849. John L Elliot withdrew from the business in 1850, and for 8 years remained a partner in name only. He finally retired in 1858 and the firm became known as James Watney & Co. James Watney then kept the management almost entirely to himself until his death, at well over eighty years, in 1884. After his death in 1884, Watney & Co Ltd became a private limited company in 1885.
In 1898, it acquired Messrs. Combe Delafield and Co. and Messrs. Reid and Co., and was thereafter known as Messrs. Watney Combe & Reid
.
James Watney was Master of the Mercers' Company in 1846, but had few other interests outside business.
James Watney contributed several thousands of pounds towards building a new church just as his father had done at Mitcham
.
), James Watney married Rebecca Spurrell
, elder daughter of the brewer and hop merchant James Spurrell
, of Park Street, Southwark
, who was employed by Barclay & Perkins's Anchor Brewery, Southwark
.
They had nine children. All five daughters remained unmarried. Of the four sons, one (Frederick) died young, aged 8 in 1846. The other three were:
The east window in Emmanuel Church, Croydon
was given by his son Norman in 1899 to the Glory of God and in loving memory of his parents James and Rebecca Watney. It was destroyed by enemy action in 1944 and replaced in 1954.
He was also uncle to John Watney
who was secretary to the Mercers Company for many years.
Watneys Red Barrel
Brewing
Brewing is the production of beer through steeping a starch source in water and then fermenting with yeast. Brewing has taken place since around the 6th millennium BCE, and archeological evidence suggests that this technique was used in ancient Egypt...
and landowner who resided at Haling Park, Croydon
Croydon
Croydon is a town in South London, England, located within the London Borough of Croydon to which it gives its name. It is situated south of Charing Cross...
, and Beddington
Beddington
Beddington is a settlement between the London Boroughs of Sutton and Croydon. The BedZED low energy housing scheme is located here. In Beddington was a static inverter plant of HVDC Kingsnorth....
, Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
. He was born to Daniel Watney (1771–1831) of Mitcham
Mitcham
Mitcham is a district in the south west area of London, in the London Borough of Merton. A suburban area, Mitcham is located on the border of Inner London and Outer London. It is both residentially and financially developed, well served by Transport for London, and home to Mitcham Town Centre,...
, Surrey and Mary Galpin (1771–1830), daughter of James Galpin (died 1789) of Mitcham
Mitcham
Mitcham is a district in the south west area of London, in the London Borough of Merton. A suburban area, Mitcham is located on the border of Inner London and Outer London. It is both residentially and financially developed, well served by Transport for London, and home to Mitcham Town Centre,...
, Surrey. He was the grandson of John Watney (1747–1814) and great-grandson of Daniel Watney (1705–1780) of Wimbledon
Wimbledon, London
Wimbledon is a district in the south west area of London, England, located south of Wandsworth, and east of Kingston upon Thames. It is situated within Greater London. It is home to the Wimbledon Tennis Championships and New Wimbledon Theatre, and contains Wimbledon Common, one of the largest areas...
, Surrey.
Professional life
The Watney family were the main partners in the Stag BreweryBrewery
A brewery is a dedicated building for the making of beer, though beer can be made at home, and has been for much of beer's history. A company which makes beer is called either a brewery or a brewing company....
of Pimlico
Pimlico
Pimlico is a small area of central London in the City of Westminster. Like Belgravia, to which it was built as a southern extension, Pimlico is known for its grand garden squares and impressive Regency architecture....
for much of the 19th century. In 1837, James Watney became a partner in the brewery with John Lettsom Elliot and Charles Lambert, as later did his sons James and Norman in 1856. The brewery was known as Elliot, Watney & Co from about 1849. John L Elliot withdrew from the business in 1850, and for 8 years remained a partner in name only. He finally retired in 1858 and the firm became known as James Watney & Co. James Watney then kept the management almost entirely to himself until his death, at well over eighty years, in 1884. After his death in 1884, Watney & Co Ltd became a private limited company in 1885.
In 1898, it acquired Messrs. Combe Delafield and Co. and Messrs. Reid and Co., and was thereafter known as Messrs. Watney Combe & Reid
Watney Combe & Reid
Watney Combe & Reid was a leading brewing business in London. At its peak in the 1930s it was a constituent of the FT30 index of leading companies on the London Stock Exchange. It produced the beer brand Watney's Red Barrel.-The Stag Brewery:...
.
James Watney was Master of the Mercers' Company in 1846, but had few other interests outside business.
James Watney contributed several thousands of pounds towards building a new church just as his father had done at Mitcham
Mitcham
Mitcham is a district in the south west area of London, in the London Borough of Merton. A suburban area, Mitcham is located on the border of Inner London and Outer London. It is both residentially and financially developed, well served by Transport for London, and home to Mitcham Town Centre,...
.
Family life
On 15 October 1829, at St. Saviour's Church, Southwark (now Southwark CathedralSouthwark Cathedral
Southwark Cathedral or The Cathedral and Collegiate Church of St Saviour and St Mary Overie, Southwark, London, lies on the south bank of the River Thames close to London Bridge....
), James Watney married Rebecca Spurrell
Spurrell
Spurrell is a surname found in a number of parts of England and Wales, as well as other parts of the world.- The Spurrells of Norfolk, England :...
, elder daughter of the brewer and hop merchant James Spurrell
Spurrell
Spurrell is a surname found in a number of parts of England and Wales, as well as other parts of the world.- The Spurrells of Norfolk, England :...
, of Park Street, Southwark
Southwark
Southwark is a district of south London, England, and the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Southwark. Situated east of Charing Cross, it forms one of the oldest parts of London and fronts the River Thames to the north...
, who was employed by Barclay & Perkins's Anchor Brewery, Southwark
Anchor Brewery, Southwark
The Anchor Brewery, Southwark, was situated off Southwark Bridge Road and had its main entrance on Park Street, Southwark.- History :The brewery was established in 1616 by James Monger and for many years was a relatively small concern. In the 18th century it was owned by the Thrale family, who were...
.
They had nine children. All five daughters remained unmarried. Of the four sons, one (Frederick) died young, aged 8 in 1846. The other three were:
- James WatneyJames Watney, Jr.James Watney, Jr was Conservative Member of Parliament for East Surrey from 1871-1885.James was the eldest son of James Watney and Rebecca Spurrell and was a partner in the family brewing business Watney Combe & Reid...
(1832–1886) of Beddington, Surrey, and Thorney House, Palace Gate, KensingtonKensingtonKensington is a district of west and central London, England within the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. An affluent and densely-populated area, its commercial heart is Kensington High Street, and it contains the well-known museum district of South Kensington.To the north, Kensington is...
, was ConservativeConservative Party (UK)The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
MP for East SurreyEast Surrey (UK Parliament constituency)East Surrey is a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election....
from 1871–1885 and Master of the Mercers' CompanyMaster of the Mercers' Company-Richard II of England:-Richard II of England:-Richard II of England::1390 John Lovey:1391 John Organ:1392 John Organ:1393 John Organ:1394 William Parker:1395 Richard Whittington :1396 John Shadworth:1397 John Woodcocke:1398 William Walderne...
in 1879. He also played cricket for SurreySurrey County Cricket ClubSurrey County Cricket Club is one of the 18 professional county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Surrey. Its limited overs team is called the Surrey Lions...
(1851) and MiddlesexMiddlesex County Cricket ClubMiddlesex County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Middlesex. It was announced in February 2009 that Middlesex changed their limited overs name from the Middlesex Crusaders, to the...
(1851–1852). Married Blanche Maria Georgiana Burrell in 1856.
- Norman Watney (1834–1911) of Valance, WesterhamWesterhamWesterham is a town and civil parish in the Sevenoaks District of Kent, in South East England with 5,000 people. The parish is south of the North Downs, ten miles west of Sevenoaks. It covers 5800 acres . It is recorded as early as the 9th century, and was mentioned in the Domesday Book in a...
, KentKentKent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
, was educated at HarrowHarrow SchoolHarrow School, commonly known simply as "Harrow", is an English independent school for boys situated in the town of Harrow, in north-west London.. The school is of worldwide renown. There is some evidence that there has been a school on the site since 1243 but the Harrow School we know today was...
. He was a Justice of the PeaceJustice of the PeaceA justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
and a Deputy LieutenantDeputy LieutenantIn the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
for Kent, and also served as Master of the Mercers' CompanyMaster of the Mercers' Company-Richard II of England:-Richard II of England:-Richard II of England::1390 John Lovey:1391 John Organ:1392 John Organ:1393 John Organ:1394 William Parker:1395 Richard Whittington :1396 John Shadworth:1397 John Woodcocke:1398 William Walderne...
in 1880. He married Matilda Jane Robinson on 26 April 1866 at ClitheroeClitheroeClitheroe is a town and civil parish in the Borough of Ribble Valley in Lancashire, England. It is 1½ miles from the Forest of Bowland and is often used as a base for tourists in the area. It has a population of 14,697...
, Lancashire. He built Valence, Westerham (now a school) in 1885 and was the father of missionary Constance WatneyConstance WatneyConstance Watney, M.B.E., C.O.C., S.R.N., M.B.C.N., was a British born missionary nurse in Uganda.-Early Years:Constance Watney was born in 1878 in Beddington, Surrey...
.
- Herbert Watney (1843–1932) of Buckhold, PangbournePangbournePangbourne is a large village and civil parish on the River Thames in the English county of Berkshire. Pangbourne is the home of the independent school, Pangbourne College.-Location:...
, BerkshireBerkshireBerkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
(now St. Andrew's School), was educated at RugbyRugby SchoolRugby School is a co-educational day and boarding school located in the town of Rugby, Warwickshire, England. It is one of the oldest independent schools in Britain.-History:...
and St. John's College, Cambridge. He was Senior Assistant Physician at St. George's Hospital, London and Master of the Mercers' CompanyMaster of the Mercers' Company-Richard II of England:-Richard II of England:-Richard II of England::1390 John Lovey:1391 John Organ:1392 John Organ:1393 John Organ:1394 William Parker:1395 Richard Whittington :1396 John Shadworth:1397 John Woodcocke:1398 William Walderne...
in 1915. He married Sarah Louisa Rainsford on 22 January 1873 at All Saints Church, Wandsworth, Surrey.
The east window in Emmanuel Church, Croydon
Croydon
Croydon is a town in South London, England, located within the London Borough of Croydon to which it gives its name. It is situated south of Charing Cross...
was given by his son Norman in 1899 to the Glory of God and in loving memory of his parents James and Rebecca Watney. It was destroyed by enemy action in 1944 and replaced in 1954.
He was also uncle to John Watney
John Watney
John Watney was Honorary Secretary of the City and Guilds of London Institute for the Advancement of Technical Education...
who was secretary to the Mercers Company for many years.
See also
Master of the Mercers' CompanyMaster of the Mercers' Company
-Richard II of England:-Richard II of England:-Richard II of England::1390 John Lovey:1391 John Organ:1392 John Organ:1393 John Organ:1394 William Parker:1395 Richard Whittington :1396 John Shadworth:1397 John Woodcocke:1398 William Walderne...
Watneys Red Barrel