The Dorset History Centre holds an extensive range of documents charting the life and times of the famous Eldridge Pope Brewery established under that trade name in the 1870s. However the brewery actually owes its existence to two 19th century entrepreneurs that, through their vision and hard work, created the foundation upon which Eldridge Pope was to be built.
Charles Eldridge was born in Somerset in 1791 and took up post in 1827 as Wine Steward to the Williams family at Bridehead, Little Bredy. Here he developed his knowledge and expertise in the selection of wines and spirits. He was married and had one child Sophia, who later went on to marry John James Besant, a Dorchester brewer.
Sarah Bishop was born in Dorset in 1797 and was married to John Balson, Landlord of the Green Dragon Tavern in Durngate Street Dorchester. Here Sarah was able to develop her knowledge of brewing, a growing local industry. The Green Dragon inn was leased from the Williams estate by Sarah’s parents.
Little can be found about how Sarah and Charles met but fate seems to have played a part as both were widowed after only being married to their respective partners for a few years. We may also speculate that their shared connection with the Williams estate and/or Charles’ position as a Wine and Spirits Merchant could have played a part in their meeting.
In 1829 Charles and Sarah were married and returned to Dorchester in 1833 to lease the Antelope Hotel, another property owned by the Williams Estate.
‘ANTELOPE HOTEL – Charles Eldridge has the honour to announce to the Nobility, Gentry, Commercial Men, and the Public in general, that he has just entered the above Establishment, and trusts, that, by sparing neither pains nor expense in his arrangements to render it one of the first Houses in the West of England, he shall merit and ensure a share of general patronage….C Eldridge also takes the opportunity of announcing, that he still carries on the Business of a Wine and Spirit Merchant. He tenders his sincere thanks to his Friends for the gratifying support he has already experienced and hopes to secure a continuance of it, by constantly keeping a choice Stock of Wines of the finest vintages, and the purest Spirits on sale at extremely low prices.’
– Advertisement from the Dorset County Chronicle on 31st Oct 1933
The couple prospered during their time at the Antelope Hotel combining their skills and knowledge of the brewing process whilst also promoting the sale of wines and spirits which had grown in popularity since the Napoleonic Wars. In 1837 they moved back to the Green Dragon Brewery extending the lease from the Williams family and developing their thriving small brewing business onto neighbouring land in Durngate Street (the site of the current Waitrose).
The Eldridge family grew with the birth of two daughters Sarah Albina, Emily (who later married John Tizzard a local solicitor) and a son Charles who sadly died at the age of 17.
The Dragon Brewery continued to go from strength to strength until Charles’ sudden death in 1846. At this point it would be understandable for his widow Sarah to step back from the business. However she proved to be a formidable woman and took on Alfred Mason as a business partner, adopting the trading name of Eldridge Mason and Co. Sarah was the matriarch of the business shown in the 1851 Census which describes her status and occupation as a ‘Widow’ and ‘Brewer employing 9 men’.
Over the next few years Sarah was to demonstrate great business acumen taking out more leases for pubs in key locations across Dorset. She clearly played a key role in the success of the brewery until her death in 1856. Sarah left an impressive legacy, however the contents of her will were to prove contentious and consequently shaped the future of the business. She left two thirds of the company shares to her daughter Emily Tizzard and the remaining third to her business partner Alfred Mason. Sarah’s step daughter Sophia Besant and her husband, another local brewer, contested the will but lost.
After Sarah’s death Emily’s husband John Tizzard went into partnership with Mason. When Alfred Mason decided to retire it was agreed that the Pope family would buy out Mason’s share of the business and Tizzard went into partnership with Edwin Pope. When John Tizzard died in 1871 the Pope family exercised an option set out within the deeds to purchase John Tizzard’s interest in the business – the capital of which was stated to be worth £48,440.
‘That in case of either of the said partners shall die before the expiration of the said term of partnership then and in such case the surviving partner shall within the space of six calendar months…purchase the share of the said partner so dying..’
– Extract from the Deed of Partnership between John Tizzard and Edwin Pope, D-ELP 5M/121
Therefore by the mid 1870’s the Pope family had secured sole ownership. However the Pope family chose to continue to include the name of Eldridge within the brewery’s brand name. A pleasing acknowledgement perhaps to the lives of Sarah and Charles Eldridge that were at the conception of such an iconic Dorset brand.
—
This was a guest blog, written by J Ashenden, volunteer at Dorset History Centre. If you would like to contribute a guest blog, please get in touch with us – archives@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk.
Enjoyed that, thank you.