| Brewery [a.k.a. The Royal Oak] Bells Yew [a.k.a. Oak] Green Frant |
| Thomas Batchelor established the brewery, which was next to his public house, The Royal Oak, at Bells Yew Green, probably in the 1850s. He went into partnership with George Ware in 1866, and the Ware family ran the firm after a few years. Ware built new brewery premises on the Frant - Bells Yew Green road in 1893, which were designed by William Bradford. George Ware died at his home Leafwood, near the brewery premises, on 13 July 1901. The firm continued to be run by his sons, with W C Johnson as Managing Director, and was incorporated in 1925. It was taken over by E H Kelsey Ltd in 1950 |
| Historical records | |||||
| 7th Apr 1861 | Census | Thomas Batchelor, M, Head, married, age 50, born Hadlow, Kent; occupation: brewer and farmer of 43 acres employing 7 men | Thomas Batchelor, brewer and farmer | Royal Oak, Bells Yew Green | 1861 Census Frant and Tunbridge Wells, Sussex |
| Philledelphia Batchelor, F, Wife, married, age 51, born Frant, Sussex | Philledelphia Batchelor | ||||
| Agnes Beale, F, Servant, single, age 22, born Frant, Sussex; occupation: house servant | Agnes Beale | ||||
| Obed Latter, M, Servant, widowed, age 64, born Lamberhurst, Sussex; occupation: brewer's labourer | Obediah Latter, farm labourer | ||||
| c 1875 |  | Part of the 6 inch to 1 mile map of Sussex produced in 1875 by Ordnance Survey | Brewery | ||
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