Morland was a brewery in Abingdon-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, England, and the second oldest brewer in England, until it was bought by Greene King in 2000. Morland's beers include Hen's Tooth, Old Speckled Hen, Tanner's Jack and Morland's Original.

John Morland founded the brewery in West Ilsley in 1711. In the 1860s, Morland bought Abbey Brewery and Eagle Brewery and in 1885 changed its name to United Breweries. The company bought several more breweries and around 1944 changed its name back to Morland. In 1979, Morland created Old Speckled Hen, one of their most popular beers, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the MG car factory in Abingdon, England.

After Greene King bought the Morland brewery in Abingdon, it closed it and transferred the Ruddles and Old Speckled Hen brands to its own brewery in Bury St Edmunds. The building was converted into residential housing.

In 1885, Morland became a limited company and changed its name to United Breweries and its trademark to a pyramid of three beer barrels, with the initials of the three breweries on the ends of them. In 1889, the company took over two brewers, H. B. Saxby and Field & Sons, keeping their names on the labels of their beers. This led to the closure of the Abingdon brewery and the transfer of production to Bury St. Edmunds.

The Morland's sign, showing an artist with his palette, commemorated George Morland who was a noted artist and painter. "Artist's Keg" bitter was also brewed during the 1980s and 1990s. These can still be seen today on many old Morland public houses.

Morland buildings

thumb|Former Morlands Eagle Brewery in Ock Street Brewery, now known as the Brew Tower apartments

Pubs and restaurants

In 1991, Morland and Co plc purchased 101 pubs from Courage Ltd and a further 100 were added two years later from Whitbread. More purchases were made in the mid-1990s, and also a number of restaurants nationwide. Morland opened their own restaurants called Artist Fayre as well as another 100 pubs from Whitbread & co Plc.'. Morland Plc owned over five hundred pubs when the brewery closed in 2000.

Brewery buildings

A large wooden house built for head brewer James Dymore Brown great-grandson of Jas Dymore Brown Reading Brewery once lived in was demolished when the company built a large air-conditioned draught beer warehouse. A lot of the brewery buildings are still standing. The big Malthouse which became Morland's offices and stores. Old malthouse cottages where Mr A.J.Steele signwriter painted the Breweries pub signs. And another part of a malthouse is used as the joiner's shop and a paint store. Bell Amusements a subsidiary of Morland owned was based in Northampton, and office in the old malthouse.

Beer

thumb|150px|left|Bottle of Old Speckled Hen (MG Anniversary Brew)

thumb|150px|Tanner's Jack ale, named after the leather tankards popular in the 18th century

Old Speckled Hen

Old Speckled Hen beer was first brewed by Morland in 1979 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the MG car factory there on 30 November 1979. Other variations launched by Greene King include Old Hoppy Hen, Old Crafty Hen, Old Golden Hen.

Other Morland beers

  • Morland Original
  • Hen's Tooth
  • Tanner's Jack
  • 1711 Bitter
  • Fergusons Smooth Stream
  • Revival Dark Mild
  • Beechnut Ale
  • Bill's Spring Brew
  • Old Masters Bitter
  • Fergusons
  • IPA
  • Beagle
  • Viking
  • Monarch
  • Excalibur Strong
  • Graduate

Morland Original, Hen's Tooth and Tanner's Jack are also still brewed under Greene King of Bury St Edmunds by Morland's Brewing.

References

  • Greene King website
  • Oxford Mail article on new brewery in Abingdon referencing the closure of Morlands.