Morrells Brewing Company

Morrell's Brewing Company

Gates of what was the Lion Brewery
Location	St Thomas's Street Oxford England
Opened	1743
Closed	1998
Owned by	Morrell family
Inactive beers
Name Type Advent 4.4% ABV winter ale Blustering Bursar 4.3% ABV spring ale Brewery Gate keg beer Castle Ale 4.3% ABV ale College Ale 7.4% ABV ale Friars Bitter bitter Graduate 4.8% or 5.2% ABV strong bitter Light Oxford Ale 3.2% ABV light ale Malt Stout stout Mild mild ale Old Don 4.8% ABV strong bitter Old Trumper 4.7% ABV strong bitter Oxford Bitter 3.7% ABV ordinary bitter Oxford Blue 3.7% ABV ordinary bitter Pickled Proctor 4.0% autumn ale Scorcher 3.8% summer ale Trinity 4.1% ABV summer ale Varsity 4.0% or 4.3% ABV ordinary or best bitter

Morrell's Brewing Company was a brewing company in Oxford, England, which operated under that name between 1782 and 1998. Richard Tawney founded it in 1743 as the Lion Brewery. In 1782 he formed a partnership with Mark and James Morrell, who eventually became the owners.

Morrell's brewed its beers at the Lion Brewery in St Thomas Street. In the 19th century Morrell's redeveloped and extended the Lion Brewery a number of times. A large brewing shed was added in 1879, a blacksmith's shop and engine house in 1880, a further shed and new yard in 1882, stables in 1889, new offices in 1892, a tun room in 1895, further offices in 1897 and a tall octagonal chimney in 1901. All these developments were designed by the local architect Harry Drinkwater, who also designed a number of the company's pubs.

The Lion Brewery was powered by a waterwheel on Castle Mill Stream, a branch of the River Thames. This was supplemented by steam engines for which the engine house was built. One rotative beam engine that was built for the Lion Brewery in about 1826 remained in service until 1964 and is now preserved at the Abbey Pumping Station, Leicester.

The Morrell family lived at Headington Hill Hall and their estate included South Park. The family included Philip Morrell (1870–1943), who was a Liberal MP 1906–18 and was married to Lady Ottoline Morrell. In 1929–31 Morrell Avenue was built along the south side of South Park. The family also owned the village of Streatley and one side of the family lived there, until Emily Morrell died in 1938, when the estate was sold.

After an acrimonious family dispute the brewery was closed in 1998. Refresh UK bought the beer brands and for a time Thomas Hardy Burtonwood was contracted to brew them.Marston's acquired Refresh UK in 2008 and now brew Morrells beers.