The Vaux family have been involved in the brewery business since 1806
but Vaux did not establish their own brewery until 1837. The first Vaux
brewery was on the corner of Matlock Street and Cumberland Street and
named after the founder Cuthbert Vaux, C. Vaux & Co. and would become
one of Sunderland's most successful businesses. By 1844 the company was
doing so well they had to expand, which meant they had to move. They
bought a brewery in Union Street, where the business stayed and thrived
for the next 30 years.
In 1875 the land was bought by North Eastern Railway Company for the new
Central Railway Station and so C. Vaux & Co. moved to Castle Street and
Gill Bridge Avenue, where it would remain for the next 124 years. After
Cuthbert's death in 1878 the business was past on to his sons, John
Story Vaux and Colonel Edwin Vaux. One of the founders grandsons also
called Cuthbert moved away to learn the brewing trade and after his
father John's death Cuthbert and his brother Ernest joined their uncle
Edwin in the company.
After Cuthbert returned to Sunderland and joined the company Vaux became
one of the first British brewers to introduce bottled ales and stouts.
Frank Nicholson a Sunderland charted accountant joined the company in
1898 as a manager and secretary. He later married Cuthbert Vaux's sister
Amy and became a director in 1914 and managing director in 1919. His
business abilities saw Vaux expand and in 1927 he arranged an
amalgamation with North East Breweries Ltd. creating the North East's
second largest brewers.
The new company was called Vaux and Associated Breweries Ltd. and in
1973 it became Vaux Breweries Ltd. Horse drays carried the breweries
wares to the pubs and even after trains and lorries were introduced the
horses were never totally replaced, they were a colourful and impressive
sight on the streets of Sunderland. Unfortunately in 1999 after 162
years big business took over.
Big business however did not help the brewery as it has now been
demolished, flattened and is waiting for redevelopment.
Vaux Brewery In 1875.The fate of Vaux was decided by people who knew
nothing of Sunderland and what Vaux meant to the City and so they
closed the brewery down and with it went the horses and a Sunderland tradition.
