Neston Brewery, Neston

Local information suggests there were four breweries in the centre of Neston in the late 18th century but by 1890 there were none remaining.

Neston Brewery appears to have been founded, possibly in the 1670s, by John Ball who was described as ‘inn-holder-cum-brewer’. The brewery was located behind the buildings on the south-west side of High Street/Bridge Street opposite the Chester Road junction and this is confirmed by the OS map of 1874-82. John Ball's daughter, Martha, married Samuel Hayes and Martha continued brewing after Samuel’s death in 1726 until 1748 when her son, Joseph Hayes inherited the business. Joseph died in 1784 and the business was taken over by his nephews Edmund and Joseph Lyon. Edmund Lyon is listed as a beer brewer in Cowdray’s Directory of 1789, a Joseph Lyon is listed as a brewer in Pigot’s Directory of 1822-23 and Lyon & Co are listed as Brewers and Maltsters in Pigot’s Directory of 1828-29.

Morris & Co’s Directories of 1864, 1874 and 1880 list Neston Brewery in the High Street with Thomas Parry as brewer. The adverts offer sales direct to the public. On 10th April 1906, the Old Brewery Buildings with malt house, stable, cart sheds, loose boxes, piggeries etc. with large yard, with frontage to High Street and Bridge Street were sold at auction for £500.

There is less information about the other Neston breweries. One was in Liverpool Road at the site of what is now the Malt Shovel Pub. This was owned and operated by Thomas Whittle in the early 1700s and operated by his family until his daughter Marojorie died in 1793.

Another was to the west side of the Brewers Arms. Pigot’s Directories of 1822-23 and 1828-29 lists James Bradburne as a brewer. An auction was held on 27 April 1838 was for the sale of a brewery including the Brewers Arms pub from the estate of James Bradburn.

Bagshaw’s Directory of 1850 lists Humphrey Ellis and Joseph Massey (who was also a maltster) as brewers but there is no indication of the location of their breweries.