Records of Blair & Co (Alloa) Ltd, brewers, Alloa, Scotland

Scope and Content

  • Pension records, 1949–1962;
  • Life assurance records, 1950–1962;
  • Sales literature, 1856;
  • Copy illustrated invoice, 1884;
  • Statement of sales account, 1961;
  • Labels (unlisted);
  • Staff photograph, c1920s;
  • Historical notes and articles, 1882–1993;
  • Artefacts, c1900.

Administrative / Biographical History

Alexander Blair founded the  Townhead Brewery ,  Alloa, Clackmannan , in  1853  .  Blair & Co of Alloa Ltd was registered in  1883  as a limited liability company to acquire the business. It made a substantial loss between  1877-1884  , and from  October 1884–June 1887  the company was run by representatives of the creditors. It went into voluntary liquidation in  1896  and a new company of the same name was registered in  June 1896  as a reconstruction of the old company. The new company went into voluntary liquidation in  January 1936  and  Blair & Co (Alloa) Ltd was registered in that year as a public limited liability company to acquire the business. The brewery at that time had a capacity of over 30,000 barrels of beer per annum. The company acquired  Robert Knox (Cambus) Ltd, Forth Brewery ,  Cambus, Clackmannan , for GBP 54,480 in  1954  and  Ideal Taverns (Scotland) Ltd in  1957  . It was acquired, along with 20 tied houses, by  George Younger & Son Ltd ,  Alloa, Clackmannan in  1959  and ceased to brew, going into voluntary liquidation in  1962  .

Arrangement

The material is arranged according to the Scottish Brewing Archive classification scheme used within all SBA collections.

Access Information

Open

Acquisition Information

Unknown.

Other Finding Aids

File level list available in searchroom.

Alternative Form Available

No known copies

Physical Characteristics and/or Technical Requirements

None which affect the use of this material

Conditions Governing Use

Applications for permission to quote should be sent to the University Archivist.

Reproduction subject to usual conditions: educational use and condition of documents.

Appraisal Information

This material has been appraised in line with standard GB 0248 procedures.

Custodial History

The collection was previously stored with the rest of the Scottish Brewing Archive at Heriot–Watt University. It moved to the University of Glasgow in 1991. Custody of the Scottish Brewing Archive was transferred to Glasgow University Archive Services in 2008.

Accruals

None expected.

Related Material

GB 0248 GY: Records of George Younger & Son Ltd; GB 0248 ARTEFACTS: Scottish Brewing Archive Artefacts Collection.

Location of Originals

This material is original

Bibliography

Richmond, Lesley and Turton, Alison (eds), The Brewing Industry. A Guide to Historical Records , (Manchester and New York: Manchester University Press, 1990).

Richmond, Lesley and Turton, Alison (eds), The Brewing Industry. A Guide to Historical Records , (Manchester and New York: Manchester University Press, 1990); McMaster, Charles, Alloa Ale. A History of the Brewing Industry in Alloa , (Alloa, 1985).

Additional Information

Description compiled in line with the following international standards: International Council on Archives,ISAD(G) Second Edition, September 1999 and National Council on Archives,Rules for the construction of personal, place and corporate names

Scotland is the location of all place names in the administrative/biographical history element, unless otherwise stated.

Collection catalogued by Amanda Jackson, Scottish Brewing Archive Assistant, 03 February 2000. Catalogue converted to Encoded Archival Description by Michelle Kaye, Archives Assistant, 14 March 2012. Catalogue edited by Natalie Milne, Archives Assistant (Hub), 19 December 2001, and Wiebke Redlich, Archives Assistant (Hub), 10 June 2002.

Geographical Names