frame, A label from a bottle of Nicholsons' Brown Ale Nicholson's was a small

brewery A brewery or brewing company is a business that makes and sells beer. The place at which beer is commercially made is either called a brewery or a beerhouse, where distinct sets of brewing equipment are called plant. The commercial brewing of be ...

operating from 1840 to 1960 in

Maidenhead Maidenhead is a market town in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead in the county of Berkshire, England, on the southwestern bank of the River Thames. It had an estimated population of 70,374 and forms part of the border with southern Bu ...

in the

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

county of

Berkshire Berkshire ( ; in the 17th century sometimes spelt phonetically as Barkeshire; abbreviated Berks.) is a historic county in South East England. One of the home counties, Berkshire was recognised by Queen Elizabeth II as the Royal County of Berk ...

History

The brewery was founded in 1840 by William Nicholson (1820–1916), son of successful businessman Robert Nicholson. The brewery was based in the centre of town with an extensive frontage on the

High Street High Street is a common street name for the primary business street of a city, town, or village, especially in the United Kingdom and Commonwealth. It implies that it is the focal point for business, especially shopping. It is also a metonym fo ...

. At their peak in the 1900s, Nicholson's possessed 150 tied pubs.

Courage purchase

Nicholson's was bought out by Courage, Barclay & Simonds in 1958, and the site was closed three years later. It was demolished in 1962. The Nicholson's Centre shopping complex now stands on the site, covering the 400 ft deep

artesian well An artesian aquifer is a confined aquifer containing groundwater under positive pressure. An artesian aquifer has trapped water, surrounded by layers of impermeable rock or clay, which apply positive pressure to the water contained within th ...

that provided the brewery with its water.

References

{{reflist British companies established in 1840 Companies based in Maidenhead Defunct breweries of the United Kingdom History of Berkshire Food and drink companies disestablished in 1960 1840 establishments in England 1960 disestablishments in England Food and drink companies established in 1840 Breweries in England British companies disestablished in 1960