Alfred Ernest Alston

Became a partner in brewing firm 'Stour brewery" at Manningtree.

Alfred Ernest ALSTON1 was born on 23 Aug 1844 in Great Bromley, Essex. UK and died on 23 Jun 1935 at age 90.

General Notes: Living in High Street Manningtree, Essex in the 1881 Census with his family.

On the tombstone in Great Bromley Churchyard, Essex: "The Family Vault of Edward John Alston - Sacred to the memory of Alfred Ernest Alston, fourth son of the late Edward John Alston, died June 23rd 1935 in his 91st year.

Notes from Ann Hewitt, Toronto, Canada: Alfred was the squire of Great Bromley and his family lived in Bromley Hall. His money came from a long established family brewery, The Stour Brewery, in Manningtree, Essex. Alfred was the brew-master, and known to his staff as The Pater. Apparently he did not get along with his three sons. They were raised and educated as "gentlemen" with no real skills for the work-a-day world.

Kellys Directory 1894 Manningtree ESS - Alston Alfred Ernest High St Manningtree - Alston & Sons, Brewers, Maltsters, Wine & Spirit Merchants & White Hart Hotel High St. Ref 1851 ESS Census aged 6 bn Gt Bromley - ESS 461/GBY

AUCTION MANNINGTREE ESSEX By direction of A E Alston Esq. who is approaching 90 years of age and retiring from the business which has been in the same family for many generations under the name of ALSTON & SONS. The Stour Brewery - Manningtree together with 21 fully Licensed Houses and 1 Beerhouse which are all freehold viz. :- In Essex. The White Hart Hotel - Manningtree The Thorn - Mistley The Waggon & Horses - Mistley The Horsley Cross Inn - Mistley The Kings Arms - Lawford The Village Maid - Bradfield The Wheatsheaf - Wrabness The Cross Inn - Gt Bromley (Beerhouse) The Wagon & Horses - Wix The White Hart - Wix The Castle - Ramsey The Royal Oak - Dovercourt The Coach & Horses - Harwich The Packet - Harwich The Swan - Stones Green Gt Oakley The Hare & Hounds - Upper Kirby The Red Lion - Lower Kirby The Red Lion - Gt Holland, Clacton-on-Sea The Red Lion - Gt Bentley The Bowling Green - Elmstead Market In Suffolk The Hare & Hounds - East Bergholt The Kings Head - Higham Messers Fleuret, Haxell, Marks, & Barley. c 1933

MR A E ALSTON DEATH AT MANNINGTREE IN HIS 91ST YEAR. The name of Alston is an honoured one in Manningtree and District and over a much wider sphere, it is the oldest family in the district one that has played a great part in the industrial life of the place, for Alston Breweries at Manningtree had been in existence for generations up to January 1933 when the brewery was sold.

  Mr Alfred Ernest Alston the former head of the firm died at his home in Manningtree on Sunday and thus causes a break in the association of so highly esteemed a personality with the district. He was in his 91st year.

  For the last three years Mr Alston who was the fourth son of the late Edward J Alston of Gt Bromley Hall, had been a semi invalid during which time he had been most devotedly and lovingly nursed by his daughter Miss Caroline Alston, who made her fathers long illness her special and patient care.

  The family of Alston were connected with brewing industry for many generations, the last family of A E Alston and Sons being primarily the fifth of a long line originating in Cumberland. In the popular history of Margaret Catchpole* there was mention of a Mr Alston of Diss. It will be remembered that whilst Margaret having stolen the horse was making her way to London Mr Alston rode into the yard of the Black Bay as the pursuers were in the act of getting into the chaise. "Pray mister may I be so bold as to ask if you come from along the London Road" asked the pursuers and Mr Alston replied " I left the town this morning and am now on my journey to Manningtree" and then the story goes on how Alston gave Margaret away to her followers.

  Although it is not possible to connect Mr Alston of Diss with the family of Alston, members of the family have every reason to believe they are descendants of the Alston of Margaret Catchpole's history, and Mr Alston had very frequently said "This is the one Alston of whom I am ashamed"

  The late Mr Alston had been connected with the brewing industry for the long term of 73 years having left school at the age of 16 to become associated with his father then head of the firm. The district can ill afford to lose its old established families. There was a time when there were many such in residence but the Alston family is now almost the last of a long line and with the disposal of the premises three years ago, and now with the decease of Mr Alston, and an industry that was well known to every resident in the North East corner of Essex, from a family of many generations, there has passed the last of a much respected and almost historic family.

PHILANTHROPIC INTERESTS. Mr Alston was possessed of a peculiarly quiet and unassuming character but he was possessed of a wonderfully charitable disposition, and there were in fact few organisation's and associations in and around Manningtree with which he was not associated in practical form. The Church in Manningtree had in him a stalwart and zealous friend and worker, following in the footsteps of his father, he became Churchwarden. To him also fell the honour of the introduction of the motor car into Manningtree and he was the first member in this locality of the RAC and it was always a proud boast of his that he was successful in winning the cup that was offered for first hill-climbing contest for motor cars held at Manningtree. His car was an old Swift a strange object from the perfect streamlined models of today, and it was the late Mr Alston's car that occupied such a prominent place in the Dovercourt Bay carnival during the past two years, and which was awarded a special prize at the Concours D'Elegance by Mr Kaye Don the official judge.

  The late Mr Alston, it will be recalled by all residents in the Manningtree district particularly, organised in 1887 the Jubilee celebrations in the place, on which occasion a public dinner was served in the High Street.

A YACHTING ENTHUSIAST. Yachting and yacht racing also had in him a great enthusiast. He was present at most of the yachting festivals around the coast in his small cruising yacht, although he never participated in actual racing.

  Archaeology had also in him a very firm adherent. He was member of both the Essex and Suffolk Archaeological Societies and their meetings in the locality were never considered complete with out his presence; in fact he was present at their functions right up to the time of his last illness.

  'The British Legion Manningtree Branch have lost in the late Mr Alston a very firm friend. He was also a respected member of the Wine Club in London, a connoisseur of rare wines, he was frequently called to London for his expert opinion.'

  Mr Alston's wife predeceased him in May 1934 (?) He leaves a family of five, two daughters and three sons.

* Margaret Catchpole 1762-1819 was an Ipswich woman with a colourful history, being twice sentenced to death and reprieved she was deported to Australia and made good.

Noted events in his life were: • He was employed. Brewer

[ Caption: Edith Emma Stacey - 1845 ] Alfred married Edith Emma Harwood STACEY on 7 Mar 1867. Edith was born in 1845 in Lewisham, Kent. UK and died on 1 May 1930 at age 85. They had five children: Ernest Herbert, Edith Caroline, Arthur Edward, Edward Constable, and Ethel Violet.

General Notes: On the tombstone in Great Bromley Churchyard, Essex: "The Family Vault of Edward John Alston - Sacred to the memory of Edith E.H. Alston, wife of Alfred Ernest Alston, who died May 1st 1930, in her 85th year"

Anne Hewitt relates that Edith was known as The Mater and took to her bed at the age of 50, she was attended by a full time nurse and lived to be 84 years old.