Tolly Cobbold

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Tolly Cobbold is a former brewing company, with strong roots in Suffolk, England.

The original Cobbold brewery was founded in Harwich, Essex in 1723. The name Tolly Cobbold is an amalgamation of the two family run brewers the Tollemache Brewery owned by the Tollemache family and Cobbolds Brewery owned by the Cobbold family in 1957. In 2002, the brewery was acquired by Ridley's brewery[1].

In 2005 Ridley's was bought by Greene King and dismantled, before, many claim, the recipes for the traditional Ridley's beers could be sufficiently recorded by their new owners. As a result of the buyout, Tolly Original, the only Tolly Cobbold beer that Ridley's continued to brew in Chelmsford, is likely to become extinct since Greene King are unlikely to continue brewing it. Greene King was the main sponsor of Ipswich Town F.C., which was established by the Cobbold family.


It was in 1746 that the Cobbold Cliff Brewery was founded, at Cliff Lane, Ipswich.


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[edit] Tolly Follies

One of the Tolly Follies, the Suffolk Punch in Ipswich, Suffolk
One of the Tolly Follies, the Suffolk Punch in Ipswich, Suffolk

In the 1930s the Tollemache brewery underwent a large expansion, taking over the Cambridge Star Brewery and building a number of vast mock-baronial estate pubs, mostly in Ipswich. The ornate style, and the scale of the expansion, led to their being known as Tolly Follies. They were based on the design of the Tollemache stately home, Helmingham Hall. Most survive, although some, notably The Golden Hind in Cambridge (the only Tolly Folly outside of Ipswich) underwent major alteration in the 1980s, and Churchills on Bramford Road in Ipswich, has stood empty for a number of years and has been vandalised.

The Golden Hind in Ipswich, another example of a Tolly Folly.
The Golden Hind in Ipswich, another example of a Tolly Folly.

[edit] The Cobbolds

The Cobbolds have important status in Ipswich as the family were landowners in the town and surrounding area. Christchurch Park was donated to 'The people of Ipswich' by the family, along with many other donations of land such as Ipswich Racecourse.

[edit] Tolly Cobbold Beers

Include Tolly Original, Cobnut, Tolly Bitter, Tolly Mild, Old Strong, Old Strong Porter (bottle only). Tollyshooter (named in honour of the visit of Sir John Harvey-Jones to the brewery shortly after the 1990 management takeover) Cantab, Cardinal Ale, Cobbold's Conquest, Cobbold's IPA,a straw-coloured bitter, Beano Stout, Countdown, Election Ale(1997), Final Brew, Last Orders - a final brew in 2002.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Tolly timeline. Retrieved on 2007-06-15.


[edit] External links