eric thornton

my father cecil worked at the brewery during the 1950's.our family moved to rothwell in 1957 and my father then started working for rothwell urban district council(RUDC).

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James Butterick

My father (Albert) was a drayman here from 1930 until he retired in the early 60's.

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Lesley Thornton

My father worked in Woodlesford and his family were from there originally. one of my relatives had a funeral directors in woodlesford. i think im related to eric who has written on this site

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Karen Edwards

Both my parents worked at the brewery,Brian and Chirstine Edwards.Also my granma Gladys Edwards and uncle Trevor.Have some happy memorys of coach trips and when old enough nights in the social club there.

motherofallchildren@hotmail.co.uk

Keith Clarkson

My earliest memories of the brewery are sadly when it was just a ruin, me and my friends use to play down there on our BMX bikes in the late 80's early 90's, we use to gain access to the ruins via Eshald Lane under a railway bridge. It is now a new looking housing estate built in the late 90's where my friends mum now lives

16-Nov-2008

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Edward Emmerson

I think Bentleys of Lockwood Huddersfiel was taken over by Hammonds United Brewers,and later taked over by Bass Brewers.

25-Jul-2011

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Graham A. Schofield

I once went on a tour around Bentley's Brewery in the late 1960's. During our walk around someone asked our guide if there was any truth in the rumour that the brewery was struggling and was about to close down. The guide responded by saying something on the lines of - ' No. We are amalgamating with Whitbread's. They will be looking after the brewery by take us under their wing '. The guy was obviously giving us the, shall we call it, "Management Speak". Takeovers, Amalgamations and subsequent closures, were a growing concern for British Industry at that time. my comment to him was, that I would take such statements with a pinch of salt, and try to visualise vultures picking bones clean of everything. Bentley's was my favourite beer. However much you drank, it never seemed to give one a 'bad head'. Its quality was put down to the fact that the brewery used fresh spring-water. At least it did until the results of one of the regular monthly water analysis checks showed that the quality was not up to standard. In response to Edward Emmerson's comment:- I think that I am correct in saying that both Bass, and Whitbread's had large holdings of Bentley shares, and when Whitbread's bought those held by Bass Charrinton, the combined holding became just over 50%, which of course put them in a position of control. Bentley's was taken over by Whitbread's in 1968, and brewing finally ceased in 1972 - yet another sad day in the history of British Brewing.

05-Dec-2011

GrahamScho@AOL.com

Edward Emmerson

There was a term in Brewery circles called the Whitbread Umbrella,with Whitbread had shares in most of the smaller breweries in England.

05-Dec-2011

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Spencer Hargrave

Its a real shame that the brewery does no longer exist and has no reminders of the place on the new estate where i live, its called the Maltings but i guess thats the only thing linking the new estate to what was once the heart of woodlesford and the local communities. Does anyone know the whereabouts of the well? im guessing its where the concrete capping is in my neighbours field next to the railway & park.

27-Jan-2012

spencerhargrave@hotmail.co.uk

ian t

i was employed by ken bould plumbing contractor at the brewery from 1970 until the brewery closed the well was situated somewhere underneath the water tower .just before it closed i went into the well room with harold paige he wanted a sample of well water as a souvenier ! i have a photo of the tower just before it was demolished .

14-Jan-2013

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Peter Higginbottom

Worked there on & off as a refrigeration contractor, late 70's early 80,s. Ran a disco in the social club when pogo-ing was the fashion, one lad jumped up & laid himself out, cracking His head on one of the low beams.

09-Mar-2013

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