Anchor Brewery
| Company type | Brewery |
|---|---|
| Industry | Brewing |
| Founded | 1616 |
| Founder | James Monger Sr. |
| Defunct | 1981 |
| Fate | Merged with Courage Brewery in 1955; original brewery demolished in 1981 |
| Headquarters | Southwark, London , England |
Area served | Global |
Key people | John Perkins, Robert Barclay, Ralph Thrale, Edmund Halsey |
| Products | Porter, Pale Ale, Lager, Russian Imperial Stout |
The Anchor Brewery was located on Park Street in Southwark, London, England. Founded in 1616, it grew to become the largest brewery globally by the early 1800s. Starting in 1781, Barclay Perkins & Co managed the brewery, which later merged with the Courage Brewery in 1955; Courage already owned the nearby Anchor Brewhouse. The original Park Street facility was torn down in 1981.
History
Established in 1616 by James Monger Sr., the brewery was situated near the Globe Theatre in Southwark. Ownership transitioned from Monger’s godson to James Child, before Edmund Halsey took over management and eventually ownership until 1729. Ralph Thrale, who was both the brewery’s manager and Halsey’s nephew, acquired it for £30,000 over a period of eleven years.
Barclay Perkins & Co came into existence in July 1781 when John Perkins and Robert Barclay purchased the Anchor Brewery from Henry Thrale’s widow, Hester Thrale, for £135,000 payable over four years. They also obtained permission to use the Thrale & Co brand until 1795. By 1782, production had reached 85,700 barrels annually.
By 1809, annual production climbed to 260,000 barrels, establishing it as the largest brewery worldwide. Between 1809 and 1853, Anchor maintained its position as London’s leading producer by volume. Initially focused solely on porter until 1834, the brewery later diversified into pale ale.
A significant fire in May 1832 caused damage valued at £40,000 and necessitated extensive reconstruction. The modernized brewery attracted distinguished visitors including the Prince of Wales, Otto von Bismarck, Prince Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte, Ibrahim Pasha of Egypt, General Julius Jacob von Haynau—who was famously confronted by draymen during a visit in 1850—and Giuseppe Garibaldi in 1864.
In 1867, Barclay Perkins produced 423,000 barrels. The company was among the first in the UK to brew lager, starting production in 1922.
The merger between Barclay Perkins and rival London brewer Courage took place in 1955. Brewing operations at the Anchor location persisted until the early 1970s; however, the brewery structures were demolished by 1981. The former brewery taproom, known as the Anchor Tavern, still exists today.
The brewery gained acclaim for its Russian Imperial Stout, which continued to be brewed by Courage and subsequently Scottish & Newcastle until 1993.
Constructed in 1834 following the fire, nearby Anchor Terrace served as housing for senior staff and is situated above the site of William Shakespeare’s original Globe Theatre.