B. United International Inc. - George Gale & Co.

History:

During the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, Horndean was a ribbon community astride the busy road linking London with the country's premier naval and military town, Portsmouth.

From the eighteenth century, the Gale family was contributing to Horndean's commercial life via their activities as Grocers and Bakers. Richard Gale (born in 1802) succeeded his mother Ann in this capacity, branching out to develop a second occupation as Coal and Corn Merchant before acquiring, in 1847, the Ship & Bell Inn, already renowned for its beer.

By 1853, Richard's son George Alexander was running the premises for him. Like most commercial inns of the that time, the Ship & Bell had its own brewery and within a short time, George Alexander decided that the potential for expansion was considerable.

A fire destroyed the first brewery, however a new one was built mainly using the remains of the old one. Much of the new plant, including the brewing tower, forms the premises that visitors can still see today.

George Alexander Gale continued to expand the brewery business until in 1888 he registered as a limited company.

By 1896, George Gale sold his major shareholding and the chairmanship passed to Herbert Frederick Bowyer, a miller from Guildford. The area of commercial influence then widened into Sussex where, the company acquired the Angel brewery. Subsequently, Gales continued to expand into Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Wiltshire, Surrey.

Success had much to do with a now stable workforce which pulled together, the rise of Gales bottled beer output, new modes of transport, but above all, the excellent quality of Gales beers. Every other year, from 1902 to 1908, Gales won prizes at the Brewer's Exhibitions.