Scottish Brewing Archive

• Revised by Wiebke Redlich, Archive Assistant (Hub), 12 February 2002
• 8 June 2005 Catalogue record converted to EAD2002, May 2005

Administrative/Biographical History

The Kirkfield Brewery was established in Peebles, Scotland, in 1730 by William Kerr and was acquired by William Aitchison in 1810. Then in 1830, the latter built a brewery on the South Back of Canongate (now Holyrood Road) in Edinburgh, Scotland and brewing subsequently ceased at Peebles. William Aitchison died in 1837 and was succeeded by his son, John Aitchison, founder of the Edinburgh Brewers’ Association.

After John’s death in 1857, the business was run by his eldest son, William John Aitchison. William was subsequently joined by his brother, Thomas S Aitchison, who acquired the firm after William’s death in 1878. In April 1895, John Aitchison & Co Ltd was registered as a limited liability company to acquire the business of the same name at a purchase price of GBP 60,000. The company acquired Victoria Bottling Co Ltd of South Shields, Tyne & Wear, England, and a number of licensed houses in Tyneside in the 1900s. A large part of the neighbouring Edinburgh and Leith Brewery on St John’s Street was purchased from Edinburgh United Breweries Ltd in 1925. McLennan & Urquhart Ltd, Dalkeith Brewery, Dalkeith, together with 6 licensed premises, was acquired in 1955.

Brewing ceased on this site in 1958, although bottling continued until 1961. The company, along with 68 licensed houses, was acquired in 1959 by Hammonds United Breweries Ltd, Bradford, England, and merged the following year with John Jeffrey & Co Ltd, brewers of Edinburgh, to form Aitchison Jeffrey Ltd. John Aitchison & Co Ltd went into liquidation and brewing at the Canongate Brewery, 21 Holyrood Road, Edinburgh ceased in 1961.

Source:
Richmond, Lesley and Turton, Alison (eds), The Brewing Industry. A Guide to Historical Records, (Manchester and New York: Manchester University Press, 1990).

Scope and Content

• Memorandum and articles of association, 1938 and 1955
• Amalgamations and liquidation papers, 1843–1961
• Minutes of directors’ meetings, 1895–1952
• Records relating to directors’ meetings, 1899–1961
• Minutes of members’ meetings, 1895–1960
• Records relating to annual general meetings, 1961
• Directors’ annual reports and accounts, 1950–1961
• Seal book, 1895–1926
• Shareholding records, 1897–1964
• Financial records, 1828–1964
• Appointments and contracts of employment, 1843
• Salaries and wages records, 1936–1960
• Pensions and life assurance records, 1948v1965
• Health and safety records, 1948–1959
• Licensed premises records, 1898–1961
• Property records, 1903–1961
• Promotional material, 1901–1961
• Historical notes, 1984–1988

Fonds-Level Description Compilation Details