Cobbold family

To improve it, in 1741, Thomas rented land at Holy Wells (now Holywells), Ipswich, to secure access to its natural spring and began transporting this water to his Harwich brewery by schuyt.

[5] The rapid expansion of Ipswich during the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century and the establishment of a garrison in the town in 1793[6] increased the market for Cobbold ale.

Third-generation brewer, John Cobbold (1746-1835) took full advantage, acquiring several old Tudor properties in the town and the surrounding area which he converted to pubs.

[7] John also bought Pitt's Farm adjacent to the springs at Holy Wells to tighten his grip on the supply of water and, in 1814, he moved his family into the old farmhouse which he renovated and extended.

In 1896, seventh-generation brewer, John Dupuis Cobbold (1861-1929), demolished the original brewery, replacing it with a state-of-the-art building to increase productivity by employing new technologies.

[11] In 1990, directors Brian Cowie and Bob Wales led a successful management buy-out of the brewery (not the pubs) for £4m, supported by both the Tollemache and Cobbold families.

New beers were released, guided tours of the brewery were introduced and the advice of Sir John Harvey Jones through his BBC show, Troubleshooter, was sought.