Norfolk has the ideal conditions for growing barley which led to hundreds of breweries in the county. The small market town of Thetford was home to one of the most important breweries in the East of England – Bidwell’s!
This family run business was based in a flint building on Old Market Street, now a Grade II listed building. The family were wealthy and held important positions within the town.
The Bidwell’s Brewery was founded in Thetford in 1710. The brewery grew rapidly throughout the Victorian period. In 1868 Bidwell’s ran, not only the brewery but also several pubs in Thetford and more across Norfolk. They also owned pubs in Suffolk and Cambridgeshire. The estate was valued at £30,000 and continued to grow. By 1889 Bidwell’s was worth £68,000 and consisted of 55 pubs and malthouses plus other buildings and land in the town. In 1905 the business was sold outside of the Bidwell family to Eustace Quilter for £104,000. By now the brewery owned 105 hotels and pubs! The brewery was still known as Bidwell’s until 1924. It was sold to Bullard’s and brewing stopped.
This beer bottle (THEHM : 1979.71b) is on loan to the ‘Beers and Brewing: Norfolk’s Rural Pubs’ exhibition from the Ancient House Museum in Thetford.
Thankyou to the Norfolk Pubs and Thetfords Great websites which were invaluable when researching the Bidwell’s Brewery.