When Morrells Brewery stopped serving Oxford after 200 years

In July of that year, the Oxford Mail reported that Morrells workers arrived at the St Thomas' Street brewery knowing that time was about to be called on 200 years of brewing.

The Morrell's Brewery main gate in 1994

Read again: Why did the gates at the Lion Brewery disappear?

For some, Oxford without a brewery was just about as unimaginable as Carfax without its tower. But any real hope of survival had already gone.

Weeks of rumour about the future of the historic brewery and its 132 pubs had been followed by the unedifying sight of one of the city's most famous families tearing itself apart in public.

Dray horses at Morrell's in 1989

Any doubts about the bitterness of the feud were removed when brewery boss Charles Eld found himself being escorted from the building last month.

By the time the 'grand old lady' of the Morrells family, Margie Eld, quit as a director after 54 years, many had already concluded that the brewery was in its death throes.

Read more: Former city councillor reflects on 30 years of service

Her words as she left the Lion brewery were not designed to bring any cheer.

"I am convinced that the new management intends to sell all the assets of the business as quickly as possible and to make all employees redundant," she said at the time.

For many years the main source of power was a water wheel driven by a stream passing under St Thomas' Street.

Morrell's head brewer Louis Gunter with MD Tony Worth in 1981

Over-production in the beer industry had seen a wave of brewery closures all over the country that year.

Morrell's was thought to be under particular pressure from its aggressive competitor just down the road, Morland, riding high on the back of its Old Speckled Hen brand.

Lord Mayor Dr Frank Garside and Col Bill Morrell in the sampling room in 1998

The Abingdon-based brewery has also closed but the micro-brewery Loose Cannon's beers, made in the town are now popular.

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After Morrells closed, The Lion Brewery was developed into 79 luxury apartments in 2002 and historic features were retained.

Students visit Morrells Brewery in 1976

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About the author 

Andy is the Trade and Tourism reporter for the Oxford Mail and you can sign up to his newsletters for free here. 

He joined the team more than 20 years ago and he covers community news across Oxfordshire.

His Trade and Tourism newsletter is released every Saturday morning. 

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