itself that the Foxearth site came into this category. At first
Ind Coope management placed a value of £100,000 on the
entire estate though skilful negotiating by David’s accoun-
tants dropped the price sharply within a month.

capital. Later that month he was told his bid would be
recommended to the Ind Coope Board of Subsidiary
Committees for acceptance.

By first selling the business of Ward and Company
Limited, and then buying the drastically re-modelled
business back again, he had created a precedent in the
brewing industry, the firm assumed a new identity and
traded as Wards (Foxearth) Limited. David was upbeat
now that the short interlude of Ind Coope tenure was over.

Ind Coope had been determined to get more for the
Estate than they had paid for it, now they realised that this
was going to be an impossible fulfilment. Their total
consideration was David Ward would buy back all that
Taylor Walker had bought for £82,200. David for his part
refused, saying he would not go above £70,000.  

Yet, there was an equivocation in the rather muscular
agreement, the brewing giant building in a number of strict
conditions. All Ward’s pubs, although free houses, were
required to sell Ind Coope beers such as Double Diamond,
Skol and Long Life.
Other beers such as Jubilee Stout together with beers from
Tolly Cobbald, Adnams, Elgoods, Steward and Pattison and
Morgans of Norwich were also sold, as was Carling Black
Label from the Hope and Anchor Brewery in Sheffield.

On 18 October 1959, after a meeting with his advisers,
David Ward wrote to Carfoot, suggesting his wanted
limitations of responsibility:

As you know, the business has been in my family now for three
generations and I and my family feel very loathe to think that

it should terminate and the name be lost. For this reason, and
whilst I fully appreciate how difficult it will be for me to make

a success of the job, I would like to have another try, and I feel
that in one way or  another, and  perhaps with the help  of  the

Although a reciprocal trading arrangement helped to
justify feelings of optimism - Ward’s were to supply mineral
waters and soft drinks to all Ind Coope pubs within a
radius of 17 miles from Foxearth – this incurred a ten per
cent royalty on all sales.

mineral water side, I shall be able to keep it going.
The   cottage   property   and   the   brewery   would   present   a

problem to me and I would prefer not to have them. However,
if you feel that I must take everything that was in the original

sale then so be it. In my previous offer to you I tried to be as
generous as possible, because I do want my old business back

Inside twelve months the main brewhouse tower was
demolished along with many  of the other  buildings
including the engine sheds and the chimney stack. The
fermenting vessels, coppers and other useable equipment
were bought by Britain’s oldest brewer Shepherd Neame
located at Faversham in Kent.38 Other brewery plant
including the 1904 Lancashire boiler and the smaller
original Cornish boiler were sold for scrap to make space
for the extensive bottling hall.

again, but there is a limit beyond which I am advised I should
be taking too big a risk.

On the  basis  of  the Trading  &  Profit Loss  Accounts  for  the
period ended 29th August 1959, I must face a possible loss of

at  least  £7,000  between  the  1st  January  and  the  30th  June
1960,  and  this  sum  together with  the  cost  of  stocks,  possibly

book debts and credits for empties, may well take the amount
of  capital  required  over  £100,000.  This  is  too  big  a  sum  of

The negotiations continued until January 1960, by
which time David had improved his offer to £75,000 for 26
licensed premises; all fixed and current assets and share

The copper is still in use today and is used to brew beers
such as Bishop’s Finger and Spitfire.