Essex Brewery in East London that became known for Tolly brand

The Essex Brewery Co. Ltd. was formed in 1871 to acquire an established steam-powered brewery at St James Street, but it did not attract enough subscribers and was instead acquired by Collier Bros. who operated at the premises for several decades as the Essex Brewery.

The brewery’s main products were ales and stouts, and two of their most popular products were the Amber Ale and the B A Ale, which were included amongst several ales offered for sale via a home delivery service to all parts of London and its suburbs. Much was made of the artesian wells from which the brewery drew water for the brewing process, and this featured prominently in their advertising. Interestingly, the Collier Brothers exhibited at the International Health Exhibition in 1884, where their ales were touted as ‘ales brewed for family use’.

The original Brewery Tap c1905. Picture: Vestry House Museuim

The business went from strength to strength, and as demand grew, the brewery premises were enlarged to include warehouses. The original brewing tap had been converted to office use by the early 20th century. The brewery also built several pubs in Walthamstow, including two which are still pubs today: Tower Hotel on Hoe Street (now The Goose) and the Flowerpot on Wood Street. The Essex Brewery Tap (junction of St James Street and Markhouse Road) is now a gym and fitness business with flats above, and the Commongate on Markhouse Road is now a hotel.

The Brewery shown on an Ordnance Survey map from 1955-6

The brewery was very much a family business in the early years, and by the beginning of the 20th century, brothers Alfred and Frederick Collier were prominent figures in the company. They were both well-known locally too, not least as Fred was president of the Walthamstow Town Cricket Club, and Alfred represented the St James Street South division within Essex County Council. They did not live in Walthamstow, however. Fred resided in a Marylebone mansion block with his wife and two daughters, and Alfred’s home was a large 18-room Snaresbrook residence where he lived with his widowed mother, two sisters and brother. He and his siblings were all unmarried.

An 1890 home delivery service advert. Picture: British Library Board

As the brewery expanded, they employed an increasing number of local staff, including a head brewer who lived on Hoe Street. By 1900 there were more than 100 staff in their employ, and in 1898 all were invited to a dinner at the Tower Hotel to celebrate Fred’s marriage to Alice Cohen. However, the happy couple were not present, having departed for their honeymoon from their family reception in Upper Clapton that afternoon.

The Brunner Road side of the Essex Brewery in the 1970s. Picture: Chris Hodrien (cc-by-sa 2.0)

Success meant that the company was attractive to prospective buyers, and in 1922 the Essex Brewery was acquired by Tollemache Breweries Ltd. They took over and merged with various breweries between 1890 and 1987, and their merger with Cobbold & Co. Ltd in 1957 led to a name change to Tollemache & Cobbold Breweries Ltd. With premises at Ipswich and Cambridge as well as Walthamstow, Tollemache were known for their range of ales and stouts, many under its Tolly brand.

An advertisement for Tolly ale and stout from 1950

Ale’s popularity was in decline in the 1960s, and by 1970, 90 per cent of British pubs were serving keg beer rather than traditionally brewed beverages. This undoubtedly impacted the Essex Brewery, and in 1972 brewing ceased and the building was demolished a few years later.

The Essex Brewery development, South Grove side, with the former Essex Brewery Tap building in the distance. Picture: Google Street View

In recent years Walthamstow has seen the emergence of several new breweries as traditional ales have risen in popularity. But perhaps surprisingly, a link with the area’s brewing past comes from the residential development at St James Street and South Grove - named Essex Brewery.

Karen Averby is a seaside-loving historian and research consultant specialising in researching histories and stories of buildings, people and places. She researches house histories for private clients and collaborates in community heritage projects (karenaverby.co.uk). She is also director of Archangel Heritage Ltd, an historical research consultancy providing research services for the commercial heritage sector (archangelheritage.co.uk). Also found on Twitter @karenaverby and @archaheritage