The Friary Brewery Guildford

A short history from Guildford Dragon

Charles Hoskins-Master had a short-lived business partnership with a Guildford brewer by the name of Thomas Taunton, who had established the Friary Brewery in 1865. But it was not until Hoskins-Master had complete control did the brewery expand on the site in Guildford and increase its number of tied houses.

From 1873, the wealthy Hoskins-Master family owned the Friary Brewery. They lived at Barrow Green House in Oxted, Surrey.

The Friary (Guildford), Holroyd (Byfleet) and Healy´s (Chertsey) Brewery had come into existence in 1890. NB. the date on the building is 1897

The merger of Friary, Holroyd & Healy´s Brewery and Meux (of Nine Elms in London) created Friary Meux in 1956.

In its heyday, the brewery dominated that part of Guildford and was a major employer in the town.

In 1963, Friary Meux was taken over by Allied Breweries.

The brewery buildings were demolished in 1973-74. The last brew took place in 1969.

It must have been a sad day indeed when the last brew was produced at Friary Meux in Guildford back in 1969. Can you images the millions of gallons that must have been made there over the years?

I moved away from Guildford in 1979. I well remember the smell of the gas works off of Onslow Street, the Friary not so much but the sight of that great big hole did make me think that I should take some pictures.

There follows a few of my pictures taken as Colour Slides, forgotten about and now scanned, forty five years later, added to the web for you to enjoy.

The pictures are in date order and range from 1973 to 1979

Sides from my collection

Click on each picture to see a larger image, then close the tab to get back.
1     2     3     4     5
6     7     8     9
10    11     12    13
14     15     16     17

Description of pictures

  1. 16-34 26-Dec 1973 From Commercial Road
  2. 16-35 26-Dec 1973 From Commercial Road
  3. 17-02 ?? Mar 1974 From Bedford Road car park over Onslow Street.
  4. 17-07 ?? Mar 1974 Onslow Street Adverts from the days when a haircut was 3d and a shave 1½ d
  5. 17-08 ?? Mar 1974 Bedford Road towards the river.
  6. 17-12 ?? Mar 1974 Onslow Street
  7. 17-14 ?? Mar 1974 Onslow Street
  8. 17-15 ?? Mar 1974 from Bridge Street
  9. 25-11 ?? ??     1975 Looking NW
  10. 25-12 ?? ??     1975 Looking NW
  11. 25-13 ?? ??     1975 From Commercial Road looking towards the old Bus station.
  12. 25-15 ?? ??     1975 The end of Woodbridge Road leading to Commercial Road.
  13. 25-18 ?? ??     1975 Onslow Street looking SW
  14. 25-19 ?? ??     1975 Looking towards Bedford Road car park.
  15. 61-06 04 Mar 1979 From Bedford Road car park over Onslow Street.
  16. 61-09 04 Mar 1979 From Bedford Road car park over Onslow Street.
  17. 61-10 04 Mar 1979 From Bedford Road car park over Onslow Street.

Reference Material

This page was created on
14 Aug 2018 by Terry Rawkins (updated 2 June 2024)