Scottish Brewing Archive

• Revised by Wiebke Redlich, Archive Assistant (Hub), 4 February 2002
• 8 June 2005 Catalogue record converted to EAD2002, May 2005

Administrative/Biographical History

Thomas and James Bernard began brewing at the Edinburgh Brewery, North Back Canongate, Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1840. Thomas Bernard died in 1874 and was succeeded by his two sons, Daniel and John Mackay Bernard. The original site soon became too small and a new Edinburgh Brewery was opened in Slateford Road, on the western edge of the city, in 1888.

A dispute arose between Daniel and John Mackay Bernard soon after the opening of the new brewery and in April 1889, Daniel Bernard left the business to set up his own brewery at nearby Gorgie, Edinburgh, Scotland. In March 1895, Thomas & James Bernard & Co Ltd was registered as a limited liability company to acquire the business. In 1960 the company was taken over by Scottish Brewers Ltd, Edinburgh, Scotland, and ceased to brew.

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, 1921–1960
• Certificate of incorporation, 1895
• Amalgamation/liquidation papers, 1960–1962
• Minutes of managing body, 1895–1964
• Records relating to directors’ meetings, 1945–1960
• Directors’ annual reports and accounts to shareholders, 1920–1960
• Shareholding records, 1896–1960
• Financial records, 1890–1961
• Patents and trademarks, 1931–1958
• Production records, 1923–1960
• Sales records, 1900–1960
• Staff appointment papers, 1937–1960
• Salaries/Wages records, 1889–1961
• Pension and life assurance scheme records, 1946–1961
• Health and safety records, 1900–1909
• Licensed premises records, 1898–1960
• Property records, 1900–1957
• Promotional material, 1899–1962
• Family papers, 1880
• Photographs, 1888–1959
• Historical notes, 1897–2001

Fonds–Level Description Compilation Details