Brewery that was on the site now partly occupied by the new Mitcham Fire Station on London Road, south of the Mitcham Tram Stop.
1910 OS map
Edgar and John Mantell operated the Mitcham Brewery, London Road, Mitcham, Surrey, until 1877 when it was taken over by John Dalton Mantell, followed by Thunder & Little in 1884. Thunder & Little Ltd was registered in September 1895 as a limited liability company to acquire the business. The company acquired Edward Boniface, Cheam Brewery, Cheam Surrey, in 1898 and changed its name to Mitcham & Cheam Brewery Co Ltd. It was taken over by Page & Overton’s Brewery Ltd, Croydon, Surrey, in 1917. The Cheam Brewery closed in that year and the Mitcham Brewery ceased brewing in 1914.
Source: The Brewing Industry: A Guide to Historical Records edited by Lesley Richmond. Published by Manchester University Press (6 Sept. 1990). ISBN-10: 0719030323
Francis Thunder is shown in the 1900 electoral registers.
c. 1882 photo. This clip is from a Merton Memories photo, reference Mit_Public_Services_6-1, of White Hart pub showing “J.D. Mantell’s Mitcham Ales”
c. 1885 sketch showing the White Hart with “Thunder & Little”. From Merton Memories, reference Mit_23_17-4.
Shown as the Surrey Brewery on this 1867 map:
1867 OS map
and just Brewery on this map of 1894:
1894 OS map
News Articles and ads
from the Croydon Advertiser and East Surrey Reporter – Saturday 28 November 1885, Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Thunder & Little ad from Croydon Advertiser and East Surrey Reporter – Saturday 16 February 1889, Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
1898 Mitcham and Cheam Brewery formed to takeover Thunder and Little
London Standard – Tuesday 13 December 1898
The Mitcham and Cheam Brewery Company (Limited) is formed to take over and combine the businesses of Thunder and Little and of Edward Boniface, brewers, the one at Mitcham and the other at Cheam. A Share capital of £50,000 is to be created, in £5 Shares, half of which will be Cumulative Preference Shares, and the whole of it goes to the Vendors, who also accept £40,000 in cash in payment. An issue of £50,000 in Four-and-a-Half per Cent. First Mortgage Debenture Stock is offered to the public at par in multiples of £10.
Croydon Advertiser and East Surrey Reporter – Saturday 20 July 1889
Messrs. Thunder and Little’s Beanfeast.
— On Saturday last about 40 of the employees of the Mitcham Brewery assembled at 7 a.m., and after partaking of what they chose in the way of liquid refreshment, proceeded to Mitcham Junction, whence they travelled by special train to Portsmouth, arriving there about 11.45. After a hearty lunch at Maybour’s Restaurant at Portsea the dockyards were visited. A steam yacht was then chartered, and the party went for a two and a half hours’ trip skirting the Isle of Wight. Returning to Maybour’s they sat down to most excellent dinner, the expense of which, indeed was the whole of the outing, being borne by the firm. “The first-class spread” having been done ample justice to, toasts, songs, etc., followed until time for the return journey at 7p.m. Arriving at Mitcham Junction in good time, the company adjourned to the White Hart Hotel, and there brought most enjoyable day of pleasure to a harmonious finish.
Croydon Advertiser and East Surrey Reporter – Saturday 01 November 1879
Extensive Embezzlement.
—At the Croydon Petty Sessions on Saturday last, Frederick French, of Aberdeen-terrace, Mitcham, was charged, on remand, with embezzling 18s. 6d., the moneys of his employer, Mr. J. D. Mantell, brewer, of Mitcham.
—The defendant pleaded guilty, and said he hoped the Bench would be lenient with him on account of his wife and family.
— Mr. Dennis, who represented the prosecutor, said the defendant should have thought of his wife and family before. It unfortunately happened that this was only one amount of prisoner’s defalcations out of between £30 and £40.—The Bench sent prisoner to gaol for four calendar months.
The brewery took its water from wells, according to the book 1913 Records of London Wells:
Ref L.M. p 209
Well O.D. 68.
Depth 225.
Chalk 102.Water overflowed in 1875.
Ref. W.S.W. 3, p. 43.
Well O.D. 68.
Depth 350.
Chalk 118.
Water 38.
Bore 5 inches.
Yield 3,000.
Isler. 1897.
Maps are reproduced with the permission of the National Library of Scotland.
