SLHS: Flowers Brewery1

History

In 1831 Edward Fordham Flower opened a modest brewing enterprise in one of the buildings in what became known as Brewery Street.

Flower's Brewery was founded in 1831 by Edward Fordham Flower.

Born in 1805, he was the youngest son of Richard Flower, a brewer, banker, politician and sheep breeder of Marden Hall, near Hertford. The family owned a significant estate but Richard Flower, reportedly despondent and pessimistic with regard to the depressed condition of Britain's agricultural industry following the war with France, decided to sell his property and land and emigrate to America. He assembled a large party of friends and labourers to join his family's move to what was then the frontier region. Edward Flower was 12 when the family was uprooted in 1817.

Richard Flower was a key member of a group of pioneers who proposed to establish a small colony within Illinois. After a long and arduous journey the settlers named the colony Albion which, today, is the seat of Edwards County. Richard Flower acquired a large tract of land from the Government, though local inhabitants viewed the 'English Settlement' with some suspicion. Five years earlier the two countries had been at war. The family settled shortly before Illinois became the 21st U.S. state. Allegedly, Richard Flower played an influential role during an 1822 vote in which state residents decided against making slavery legal. Paradoxically, native Americans were obligated to leave the region and move to Iowa, an undertaking enforced by the Black Hawk War of 1832. In helping his father establishing a new home in adversity, Edward Flower's teenage years were no doubt colourful.

Through shrewd investment in livestock and agricultural machinery, the Flower family were successful in establishing flourishing farmlands, a key learning experience for the future brewer Edward Flower who became known for his remarkably energetic character. Edward Flower would later recount that, living close to the border of a slave state, the family were "constantly having skirmishes with kidnappers, and protecting free African-American's from capture." His father is credited with frequently assisting them in their escapes by personal and pecuniary aid.

Edward Flower became gravely ill with severe fever and ague when he was 19 years-old. As part of his rehabilitation he returned to England. During his convalescence, which was arguably an elegiacal experience, he determined to remain in the land of his birth. There is however an account which alleges that Edward Flower had to flee America following threats to his life after being involved in an anti-slavery campaign.

Formal education had not been a possibility in America so he determined to acquire some learning north of the border at Lanark where he was staying with the family of the late Robert Owen. How Edward came to Warwickshire is not clear. However, in 1827 he married Celina, eldest daughter of John Greaves and Mary Whitehead of Watchbury House, Barford.

SLHS Picture & Document Archives..

1. Picture Vault: Flowers Brewery

Brewery Street

● These items have aspects that uniquely contribute to national or world history.

An original bottle label c1969.   This was picked up from piles that were strewn across the floor of the then derelict brewery on Clopton Road.

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Early minor advert  1852