business
Brewery and land to be sold at auction. David

Ward buys various lots by private treaty
Three-storied brew house block built in the year

of Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee
David Ward becomes first company chairman

1814
1824

George Ward born at Foxearth
Charlotte Miller born at Walsham Le Willows,

after Charlotte Ward retires from the business
Harold Ewart Ward born at Foxearth. Company

Suffolk
George Ward begins brewing beer at Foxearth

called Ward & Son’s
Charlotte Ward dies aged 78
Foxearth beer advertised as ‘The National

1902
1912

thought to be at Mill in Mill Lane
George Ward marries Charlotte Miller at SS

Beverage’
Final major extensions completed

Peter & Paul, Foxearth
The Lion Beer house occupied by George and

1912
1914

Electricity supplied from brewery to village
reading room

Charlotte Ward to brew and sell beer
David Ward born at Foxearth

1859
1878

Opening of Men’s Club. Rev K Foster offered cow-
byre (in Love Lane) for first meeting.

George Ward dies aged 64. Charlotte Ward begins
trading as Charlotte Ward & Son

George Bernard Ward is killed in the Great War
aged 26. He is awarded a bar to his Military
Cross

David joins his mother as brewer on his 21st
birthday.

1880
1885

First purpose brewery is built
George Anthony Foster dies

Becomes a public limited company offering 40,000
shares at £1 each. Trades as Ward & Son Ltd

1886
1888

First bottling line is installed
First large scale brewery is built on land owned

Acquisition of rival brewer Frederick Grice of
Cock & Bell, Melford

by Rev John Foster
Land first leased to David Ward by Rev John

1931
1943

Celebration of 50 years of 1881 brewery
G.E. Cook of Halstead make offer for brewery.

Foster
The Lion Beerhouse gains its own licence and

Offer is declined
David Ward dies aged 90 and Harold Ward

becomes The Lion public house
Artesian wells bored at brewery
George Bernard Ward born at Foxearth

becomes the firm’s second chairman
Tollemarche make offer for brewery. Offer is

1891
1891

declined
Cockburns make offer for Brewery. Offer is

1892
1893

Rev John Foster dies aged 79
Foxearth Mineral Water Company opens for