Peter Walker (brewer)
Encyclopedia
Peter Walker was the name of two men, both within the same family, who became involved in various companies in the United Kingdom brewing industry, including two called Peter Walker.
, Scotland
. The family home was at Auchinflower, Ayrshire
, where his three sons Andrew
, John and Peter and were raised.
Walker founded the Peter Walker Brewery, and expanded the organisation south of the border to Warrington
and Burton upon Trent
through the assistance of investors.
As the business expanded, he handed daily running over to eldest son Andrew. This disappointed his other two sons, who decided to branch out on their own.
In 1879, on the death of his father, Andrew gained control of the buiness, and in 1890 converted the private company into the publicly listed Peter Walker & Son Warrington & Burton Ltd. The later Sir Andrew pioneered many of the innovations in brewing production, beer distribution and pub management that we take for granted today, including patenting the Burton Union System. The group had a chain of pubs in the Liverpool
and the north west of England, many of which today still carry the slogan Walkers Warrington Ale in their frosted glass.
After his death in 1893, with his son William
now chairman, the company merged with Cains Brewery
in 1921, and then Tetley's Brewery
of Leeds
in 1960, to form Tetley Walker. This company was one of the founding partners of Allied Breweries
.
from Robert Evans. Later joined by his brother, the pair expanded their brewery and public house chain across to Burton, before expanding southwards. After the death of both brothers, the company was sold to Atkinsons
.
Peter Walker History=
Peter Walker was a member of a Scottish brewing family that settled in Liverpool. His brother founded the Walker Art Gallery. In 1860 Peter bought the small Willow Brewery in Willow Road, Wrexham, and developed it into the largest brewery in the town. He served as Mayor of Wrexham in 1866 and 1867 but after his disappointment at not being elected for a third term in 1881 he decided to move his business to Burton on Trent in Staffordshire. He laid the foundation stone for his new brewery in February 1882 but died just two months later. He left instructions for his executors to close the Willow Brewery. It closed in 1883 and the buildings were bought by Wrexham Council to house their main depot, workshops, stables, offices, electricity generator, public baths and laundry and assembly rooms. This depot was used until it was gutted by fire and demolished in the 1970s. All that remain now are the railings alongside the River Gwenfro. He is buried in the Ruthin Road cemetery, Wrexham. When he died he was the prospective Conservative parliamentary candidate for Denbighshire and left a considerable estate of
Peter Walker
The first Peter Walker was the owner and master brewer at the Fort Brewery in AyrAyr
Ayr is a town and port situated on the Firth of Clyde in south-west Scotland. With a population of around 46,000, Ayr is the largest settlement in Ayrshire, of which it is the county town, and has held royal burgh status since 1205...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. The family home was at Auchinflower, Ayrshire
Ayrshire
Ayrshire is a registration county, and former administrative county in south-west Scotland, United Kingdom, located on the shores of the Firth of Clyde. Its principal towns include Ayr, Kilmarnock and Irvine. The town of Troon on the coast has hosted the British Open Golf Championship twice in the...
, where his three sons Andrew
Andrew Barclay Walker
Sir Andrew Barclay Walker, 1st Baronet was a brewer and Liverpool Councillor.He was born at Auchinflower, Ayrshire, He was educated at Ayr Academy and at the Liverpool Institute...
, John and Peter and were raised.
Walker founded the Peter Walker Brewery, and expanded the organisation south of the border to Warrington
Warrington
Warrington is a town, borough and unitary authority area of Cheshire, England. It stands on the banks of the River Mersey, which is tidal to the west of the weir at Howley. It lies 16 miles east of Liverpool, 19 miles west of Manchester and 8 miles south of St Helens...
and Burton upon Trent
Burton upon Trent
Burton upon Trent, also known as Burton-on-Trent or simply Burton, is a town straddling the River Trent in the east of Staffordshire, England. Its associated adjective is "Burtonian"....
through the assistance of investors.
As the business expanded, he handed daily running over to eldest son Andrew. This disappointed his other two sons, who decided to branch out on their own.
Peter Walker & Son
The original business was renamed Peter Walker & Son. Andrew further expanded the business south, building new brewing facilities in both Warrington (Walkers of Warrington, founded in 1864), and Burton.In 1879, on the death of his father, Andrew gained control of the buiness, and in 1890 converted the private company into the publicly listed Peter Walker & Son Warrington & Burton Ltd. The later Sir Andrew pioneered many of the innovations in brewing production, beer distribution and pub management that we take for granted today, including patenting the Burton Union System. The group had a chain of pubs in the Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
and the north west of England, many of which today still carry the slogan Walkers Warrington Ale in their frosted glass.
After his death in 1893, with his son William
William Walker, 1st Baron Wavertree
William Hall Walker, 1st Baron Wavertree was a British businessman, politician, art collector, and an important figure in Thoroughbred racehorse breeding.-Background:...
now chairman, the company merged with Cains Brewery
Cains Brewery
Cains is a brewery in Liverpool, England, founded in 1858 by Robert Cain. The company, with its 200 pub estate, merged with Peter Walker & Son in 1921, with the brewery operation being taken over by Higsons in 1923. Boddingtons of Manchester took over in 1985, and shut it down in 1990...
in 1921, and then Tetley's Brewery
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:...
of 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...
in 1960, to form Tetley Walker. This company was one of the founding partners of Allied Breweries
Allied Breweries
Allied Breweries was the result of a 1961 merger between Ind Coope , Ansells , and Tetley Walker .- Ansells :...
.
Peter Walker & Co
In 1860, youngest son Peter bought the Willow Brewery in WrexhamWrexham
Wrexham is a town in Wales. It is the administrative centre of the wider Wrexham County Borough, and the largest town in North Wales, located in the east of the region. It is situated between the Welsh mountains and the lower Dee Valley close to the border with Cheshire, England...
from Robert Evans. Later joined by his brother, the pair expanded their brewery and public house chain across to Burton, before expanding southwards. After the death of both brothers, the company was sold to Atkinsons
Atkinsons
Atkinsons is a family-owned department store located on The Moor in Sheffield, England. The store has been trading for over 130 years and sells a broad range of merchandise including clothing, furnishings, lighting, gifts, jewellery, toys, cookers and televisions. Facilities include a restaurant...
.
Peter Walker History=
Peter Walker was a member of a Scottish brewing family that settled in Liverpool. His brother founded the Walker Art Gallery. In 1860 Peter bought the small Willow Brewery in Willow Road, Wrexham, and developed it into the largest brewery in the town. He served as Mayor of Wrexham in 1866 and 1867 but after his disappointment at not being elected for a third term in 1881 he decided to move his business to Burton on Trent in Staffordshire. He laid the foundation stone for his new brewery in February 1882 but died just two months later. He left instructions for his executors to close the Willow Brewery. It closed in 1883 and the buildings were bought by Wrexham Council to house their main depot, workshops, stables, offices, electricity generator, public baths and laundry and assembly rooms. This depot was used until it was gutted by fire and demolished in the 1970s. All that remain now are the railings alongside the River Gwenfro. He is buried in the Ruthin Road cemetery, Wrexham. When he died he was the prospective Conservative parliamentary candidate for Denbighshire and left a considerable estate of