Original British WWI Beer Bottle with Stopper J. Shipstone & Sons Brewery – Circa 1914 Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. Dug up from a World War One trench in May of 1983 in the grounds of Hooge Chateau (Castle) at Ypres the scene of a very fierce fighting campaign.

This lovely original bottle made of substantial molded glass bears the embossed name of the brewery:

J.SHIPSTONE & SONS LIMITED, NEW BASFORD

The bottle even retains it’s original “SHIPSTONES” marked screw stopper and has a white paper adhered to the back body of the bottle stating how and when is was discovered in 1983 during drainage excavation works.

The bottom of the bottle is embossed and reads:

J L & Co LP c

3414

History of the J. Shipstones & Sons Brewery-

The company produced the Shipstones brand of beer, known locally as Shippos. The company was founded by James Shipstone in 1852. The company’s offices and brewery were based at the 7-acre (28,000 m2) Shipstones ‘Star’ Brewery in the New Basford area of Nottingham. The brewery earned the nickname of ‘Star’ brewery because of the distinctive red illuminated star which stood at the top of the brewery’s tower which could be seen for many miles around.

In 1922 it absorbed both the Beeston Brewery Company and William Hooley Limited.

By 1939, the company owned 550 licensed premises, 30 diesel lorries for long distance delivery work and 50 horses for local delivery work.

The brewery remained an independent family business until 1978 when the company was purchased by Greenall’s of Warrington which also purchased a number of other breweries from neighbouring towns and cities. Greenall’s introduced minor changes to the production of the various Shipstones beers and increased the marketing of the company, in 1987 Shipstones became the main shirt sponsor of Nottingham Forest Football Club, in an arrangement which continued until 1994.

In 1990, Greenall’s announced that they were ending all beer production and becoming a retailer only company. Production at Shipstones Brewery ended in early 1991 after 139 years. The Shipstones brand continued to be produced for some years afterwards at breweries in Burton upon Trent.