The Worshipful Company of Brewers

The Worshipful Company of Brewers was granted its royal charter in 1437 although the society had formed 150 years earlier. They were constantly at odds with the Lord Mayor, Richard “Dick” Whittington who fined them for drawing too much water from the river or for overcharging. When he discovered that the Brewers could afford to eat swans at their feast (and he couldn't), he demanded that they sell their beer for a penny a gallon the following day.

By the time the Brewers Company was formed in the 15th Century there were 269 brewers in London alone, producing ales with names like Mad Dog, Angels’ Food and Lift Leg. Unusually, it was a trade dominated by women, who not only brewed for their families but also ran large breweries. Ale-wives or brewster-wives, also kept inns with more home comforts and even medical attention available, and were therefore well patronised.

Predictably, an industry that placed women in positions of power gathered its share of disapproval. In Scotland at least, laws were passed to prevent women working in alehouses but, although they were largely ignored, by the 16th Century women had lost their hold on the brewery trade, and would not play a real part again until the First World War.

Taken from A Book About Pub Names by Elaine Saunders. For a free extract, free articles and details of how to buy, visit Complete Text