Page 55 - Sunday 13 June Advertising & Breweriana

282. GODWINS DIANA DORS ADVERTISING CARDS. 16ins longest 13 ins tallest. Multiple images of Diana Dors including image with a signature. (5) 9/10
Radford Hall Brewery, Leamington
Henry Edward Thornley was born on 7th August, 1854, originally a farmer at Radford Hall, Radford Semele, who initially commenced brewing solely for his own labourers.
By 1898 he had broadened his business interests and is listed at Radford Hall Brewery with H.
Bradshaw of 6, George Street, Leamington Spa
as his agent. By 1900, H.E. Thornley Ltd was well on the way to being established and had opened offices at 146, The Parade, wholesale and retail stores at 10/12 Gloucester Street and 2 branches in Coventry and by 1902 all brewery buildings were
complete. Furthermore, their ales and stout had acquired a strong reputation in the area and the brewery begun to accumulate a tied-estate. Henry Edward Thornley died on in June 1916, at Radford Hall, Leamington Spa, aged 61 years, but ownership of the brewery was retained by the
Thornley family. In March 1933 H.E. Thornley was registered as a limited company, with capital
amounting to £15,000, to acquire the business of brewers, etc, carried on as H. E. Thornley
at the Radford Hall Brewery, Radford Semele, Warwickshire and elsewhere. Later that year the company merged with Benjamin Kelsey Ltd, of
Birmingham, to become Thornley-Kelsey Ltd; the directors comprised Philip G. Kelsey, Benjamin G. Kelsey, Frank L. Buttler and Cecil W. Bourne. It was the last sizeable independent brewery in Warwickshire
Arguably the last sizeable independent brewery in but ceased trading in 1968.
283. LEAMINGTON RADFORD HALL BREWERY ADVERTISING POSTER. 63 x 43ins. A very impressive multicoloured advertising poster, professionally hessian backed. Image depicts the brewery
building in background with gentleman being poured a Thornleys pure sunbright
ale. Superb!. 9.5/10