In 1836, John Byng Junior, brewer of Kegworth, opened his vaults in Granby Street. This was mainly for the wholesale of his beers, and the address was given as ‘under Mr Toones, warehouse.’ John Byngs agent was James Birtchenell.
In March 1838, the owners were named as Byng & Burrows, with Birtchenell still the agent. The following year, the Kegworth Ale and Porter Vaults moved to the Market Place.
John Byng Jnr went bankrupt in April 1841, for some reason all debts were to be paid to James Birtchenell, who relocated to Horsefair Street in April 1844, opposite Hawley’s Stone Yard.
A court case of 1847, saw William McCallock charged with begging at the house of James Birtchenell by pretending to be deaf and dumb. McCallock answered in court by writing on a slate. He had previous, and had spent time in prison and the magistrates, unable to decide if he was deaf and dumb, discharged him on the condition he get out of town.
By 1853, Birtchenell’s business address was no. 4 Millstone Lane, a continuation of Horsefair Street. James died that year, although the business seemed to continue, as in April 1855 an advert for ‘James Birtchenell Ale & Porter merchant and general dealer’ was placed at that same address. The name Kegworth Ale & porter Vaults seems to have been dropped.
What is known is that James Edwards, eventually succeeded the Birtchenell business and by 1857 was trading from 7-9 High Street with stores in Millstone Lane as ‘James Edwards Ale, Wine & Spirit merchant.’
Edwards was still trading in 1890 as a ‘Wine & Spirit merchant & Chemist.’ Eventually, in the early 1900s it became ‘W & A Gilbeys’ Wine Merchant.’