Place    From 1666 

Black Eagle Brewery

Categories: Food & Drink

The name was taken from the street on the north of the site, Black Eagle Street, now the east-west section of Dray Walk. A Truman took over the business in 1679 and the business expanded. 1789 it was taken over by Sampson Hanbury (1769-1835) uncle to Robert. Another of his nephews, Thomas Fowell Buxton, joined the company in 1808. By 1816 the company was named Truman, Hanbury, Buxton & Co, and on Hanbury's death in 1835 Buxton took it over. By 1853 the brewery was the largest in the world.

In 1873 the company expanded into Burton where the water was particularly suitable for brewing. The Brick Lane site continued in operation but production gradually moved to Burton. Take-over by the Grand Metropolitan Group in 1971 and merged with Watney Mann in 1972. In 1989 Brick Lane closed. Since then it has been redeveloped as the Old Truman Brewery, with offices, shops, restaurants, etc.

Zythophile has a thorough, detailed, history and we have them to thank for the picture, from 1842.

This 1890 insurance map shows the brewery stretching north up to Quaker Street and over to the east side of Brick Lane, absorbing streets in the process.

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Black Eagle Brewery

Commemorated ati

Bowler plaque - Four Tankards

This cast-iron roundel, showing 4 tankards around an eagle motif, is one of 2...

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Other Subjects

William Prangnell

William Prangnell

Publican of the Goat in Boots probably from 1884 - 1895, overseeing the rebuilding in 1887. Andrew Behan has kindly carried out some research on this man: William Prangnell was born in October 184...

Person, Community / Clubs, Food & Drink

1 memorial
Julian Metcalfe

Julian Metcalfe

Co-founder of Pret a Manger with Sinclair Beecham, who he met at the Polytechnic of Central London.  Also founded the itsu chain of Asian-inspired restaurants.

Person, Commerce, Food & Drink

1 memorial
Worshipful Company of Bakers

Worshipful Company of Bakers

Charter granted by King Henry VII in 1486. The City's second oldest guild. (Weavers is the answer to your question.)

Group, Food & Drink, Liveries & Guilds

2 memorials
Rose and Crown, Wimbledon

Rose and Crown, Wimbledon

From Wimbledon Heritage Map: "part 17C, late 18C  early 19C public house, note multi pane sash  windows; recently sympathetically extended".

Building, Community / Clubs, Food & Drink

1 memorial
White Horse Cellars at Hatchett's Hotel

White Horse Cellars at Hatchett's Hotel

This building is still at 66-68 Piccadilly, on the north-east of the junction with Dover Street.  Architect: Weatherley and Jones. From British History (written in 1878, just 10 years before Selby...

Building, Commerce, Food & Drink, Transport

1 memorial