Joshua Tetley
Encyclopedia
Joshua Tetley was the founder of the Tetley's Brewery
in Leeds
, England. The brewery was founded in 1822 and Joshua Tetley bought the brewery for £400. In 1839, Tetley made his son a partner of the business. It is a common misconception that the former Tetley's huntsman logo was a depiction of Tetley.
. His grandfather, William Tetley had formed a successful malters business in Armley
, (at the time only a small village close to Leeds). The malters became a success and William, built up a business of wine and beer merchants in Leeds city centre
(then a town centre). Tetley was the third born of four brothers, Isaac, William and James. Tetley's elder brother William died age two.
, Lancashire
, Cheshire
and Surrey
. By 1803, Tetley's father was back in business, becoming a Leeds based agent for the Imperial Fire Insurance Office of London, an agency which kept running until 1857.
and Leeds
. The two settled in a grand house on Park Square
in Leeds. In 1822, aged 44, Tetley leased the William Sykes' Brewery in Salem Place, Hunslet
. Unusually for the time, Tetley more or less head hunted his staff, looking only for the most skilled brewers and malters and gaining them from as far away as Manchester. Once the brewery was established it was the second largest in Leeds and had an estimated value of £22, while the Robert Arthington brewery held an estimated value of £100. The Beer House Act of 1830, allowed Tetley's business to grew and allowed his recently acquired ale houses to open between 4 am and 10 pm. The temperance movement
approved beer as a temperate alternative to spirits
, which lead to the growth of many small breweries. When Tetley's father William Tetley died in 1834, Joshua received (according to William's 1820 will) £450 worth of his assets, much of which was invested in Tetley's growing empire.
. Two years later on 26 August 1859, Tetley also died and was buried in a shared grave with his wife.
Tetley's Brewery
Tetley's Brewery was a large brewery in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. The main product was Tetley's Bitter, although Skol and other beers were also made there.-History:...
in Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
, England. The brewery was founded in 1822 and Joshua Tetley bought the brewery for £400. In 1839, Tetley made his son a partner of the business. It is a common misconception that the former Tetley's huntsman logo was a depiction of Tetley.
Early life and dynasty
Tetley was born into a middle class family of Malters originally from the West Yorkshire village of BirkenshawBirkenshaw, West Yorkshire
Birkenshaw is a village in the county of West Yorkshire, England. It lies at the crossroads between the A58 Leeds to Halifax road and the A651 Bradford to Heckmondwike road....
. His grandfather, William Tetley had formed a successful malters business in Armley
Armley
Armley is a district in the west of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It starts less than a mile from Leeds city centre. Like much of Leeds, Armley grew in the industrial revolution and had several mills, one of which is now the Armley Mills museum...
, (at the time only a small village close to Leeds). The malters became a success and William, built up a business of wine and beer merchants in Leeds city centre
Leeds City Centre
Leeds city centre is the central business district of Leeds, England. It is within the Leeds Central parliamentary constituency, represented by Hilary Benn as MP since a by-election in 1999...
(then a town centre). Tetley was the third born of four brothers, Isaac, William and James. Tetley's elder brother William died age two.
The family business under Tetley's father
The Tetley's business at first expanded under Tetley's father, however in 1801, the entire Tetley's empire went into Bankruptcy. By 1801 when the bankruptcy was filed Tetley's had customers in YorkshireYorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
, Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
, Cheshire
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
and 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...
. By 1803, Tetley's father was back in business, becoming a Leeds based agent for the Imperial Fire Insurance Office of London, an agency which kept running until 1857.
Joshua enters the business
Aged 29, Tetley married Hannah Carbutt on 12 March 1808 at Sheffield Parish Church. Carbutt hailed from an affluent family which included former Mayors of both YorkYork
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
and Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
. The two settled in a grand house on Park Square
Park Square, Leeds
Park Square is a Georgian public square in Leeds, it is one of four notable squares in Leeds city centre, the square is grassed over and is a traditional Georgian park...
in Leeds. In 1822, aged 44, Tetley leased the William Sykes' Brewery in Salem Place, Hunslet
Hunslet
Hunslet is an inner-city area in south Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It is south east of the city centre and has an industrial past.Hunslet had many engineering companies based in the district, such as John Fowler & Co...
. Unusually for the time, Tetley more or less head hunted his staff, looking only for the most skilled brewers and malters and gaining them from as far away as Manchester. Once the brewery was established it was the second largest in Leeds and had an estimated value of £22, while the Robert Arthington brewery held an estimated value of £100. The Beer House Act of 1830, allowed Tetley's business to grew and allowed his recently acquired ale houses to open between 4 am and 10 pm. The temperance movement
Temperance movement
A temperance movement is a social movement urging reduced use of alcoholic beverages. Temperance movements may criticize excessive alcohol use, promote complete abstinence , or pressure the government to enact anti-alcohol legislation or complete prohibition of alcohol.-Temperance movement by...
approved beer as a temperate alternative to spirits
Distilled beverage
A distilled beverage, liquor, or spirit is an alcoholic beverage containing ethanol that is produced by distilling ethanol produced by means of fermenting grain, fruit, or vegetables...
, which lead to the growth of many small breweries. When Tetley's father William Tetley died in 1834, Joshua received (according to William's 1820 will) £450 worth of his assets, much of which was invested in Tetley's growing empire.
Death
Tetley's wife Hannah died on 13 May 1857 (aged 72) and was buried in HampsthwaiteHampsthwaite
Hampsthwaite is a small commuter village on the south bank of the River Nidd on the western edge of the Victorian spa town of Harrogate.Administratively Hampsthwaite is a civil parish in the borough of Harrogate and the county of North Yorkshire, England....
. Two years later on 26 August 1859, Tetley also died and was buried in a shared grave with his wife.
External links
- "Carlsberg to close brewery in Leeds built by Joshua Tetley in 1822" – The IndependentThe IndependentThe Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...