Papers of Cyril David Baxter Creasey, 1912-2008, vinegar brewer, Leith, Scotland

Scope and Content

  • 2 Heriot-Watt College student records: Cyril Creasey's biochemistry note books, 1934-1950;
  • 5 Institute of Brewing Scottish Section items: an IBS dinner booklet and 4 Heriot-Watt College staff-related newspaper clippings, 1950-1972;
  • 22 British Vinegars records, including technical books, newspaper clippings, black and white photographs, and promotional and historical items, 1817-1992;
  • 10 historical items: newspapers clippings of interest to Cyril Creasey, pertaining to vinegar and beer brewing, 1834-1998.

Administrative / Biographical History

Cyril David Baxter Creasey was a vinegar brewer based in Leith, Scotland. Born in 1912, he died in his 96th year on 28 Aug 2008, at Ventnor on the Isle of Wight. He had been married to the late Doris Mary Grieg and was survived by their daughter, Sheila Creasey-Gaskell.

In May 1930 Cyril Creasey started work as an Apprentice Vinegar Brewer at  Beaufoy, Grimble & Co Ltd in Leith. Grimble & Co Ltd (of London) had merged with Beaufoy & Co to form Beaufoy Grimble & Co Ltd in 1929. Other Grimble staff included Apprentice John Shiels, Leith's "singing cooper" of the Sadler Wells Opera Company, and Office Manager Miss J R Couper. He initially was appreticed under the Grimble Brewer, Mr E V Trotman, however when Trotman died toward the end of May 1930, Dr Mitchell, who had become consultant to Beaufoy Grimble & Co Ltd, helped to train Creasey four mornings a week. In 1932 Beaufoy Grimble merged with various other companies to form  British Vinegars Ltd, which was in operation for over 50 years until it closed in Apr 1983. The initial shareholders of British Vinegars Ltd were:  

  • 1. Distillers Co Ltd (which built a Spirit Vinegar Factory at Hedon, Hull, which Mr Creasey believed was the first development of British Industrial Solvents, subsequently sold to British Petrol).
  • 2. Crosse & Blackwell (which had bought Sarsons & Champion & Slee in the late 1920s).
  • 3. Beaufroy Grimble & Co Ltd (Grimble had bought the Edinburgh Malt Vinegar Co, Ballantyne Road around 1902).
Mr Creasey was sent to the Leith brewery as Under Brewer in March 1934. From 1936-1978 Mr Creasey was Manager and Brewer at 27 Jane Street, Leith, Edinburgh (premises formerly owned by R Anderson & Co, paint manufacturers) to where Grimble & Co Ltd had moved in 1917.

Mr Creasey was also a student at  Heriot-Watt College, Edinburgh in the mid 1930s and again in 1948-1950. Brewing was first taught there as a part of biochemistry in 1904, but the discipline evolved until the separate Department of Brewing was established in 1950. Mr Creasey was also a member of the Institute of Brewing Scottish Section.

Access Information

Open

Acquisition Information

Gift : Sheila Gaskell : April 2014 : ACCN 3841

Other Finding Aids

None.

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 Archivist.

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

Appraisal Information

This material has been appraised in line with standard GB 248 procedures

Custodial History

Initial owner: Cyril David Baxter Creasey. In the care of his daughter, Sheila Gaskell, upon Mr Creasey's death.

Accruals

None expected

Related Material

GB 233 Acc13177: Papers of Mr Cyril David Baxter Creasey, Cricket Collection.

GB 248 IBS: Records of Institute of Brewing-Scottish Section, Edinburgh, Scotland.

GB 248 G: Records of Beaufoy Grimble & Co Ltd, vinegar brewers, Leith, Scotland.

GB 74 B/BFY: Records of British Vinegars Ltd.

GB 582 HWUA HWC: Records of Heriot-Watt College.

Location of Originals

This material is original.

Bibliography

No known publications using this material.

Additional Information

Description compiled in line with the following international standards: International Council on Archives, ISAD(G) Second Edition, September 1999and 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.

Description compiled by Antoinette Seymour, Archives Assistant, 11 Jul 2014. Amended by Sam Maddra, Assistant Archivist (cataloguing), 24 September 2014.

Geographical Names