Robert Knox (Cambus) Ltd

Robert Knox was the factor to the landowners in the Tullibody area, the Abercrombys. In 1786 Robert founded a brewery at Tullibody. However, he had moved to a larger facility at Cambus by 1792, presumably to be closer to the established river transport connections.

With the opening of the Stirling and Dunfermline Railway, and its station at Cambus, the company built their new Forth Brewery on the north side of the tracks and opened there in October 1866. This brewery was again larger and had it's own railway sidings.

The brewery sunk it's own water well on site in May 1892. It was tested and a report was issued in June 1892 that the water was "Excellent brewing water".

Knox Advert 1894

Trade Advert, 1894

Knox Cambus Beer Truck

Knox Dray Truck

The company was registered as Robert Knox (Cambus) Ltd in 1951. The company remained in the ownership of the Knox family until the death of the last family member, Thomas Knox, in 1951. The company then passed to the Wilthew family and was acquired by Alloa brewers Blair & Co. Ltd in September 1954. The Forth Brewery was closed in December 1954.

In 1957 the site was purchased from Blair & Co. Ltd by whisky distiller George P. Christie's North of Scotland Distilling Co. and used as a distillery.

Distillery

1980 Picture of buildings in use as a distillery

Christie sold the old brewery buildings to next door neighbours Distillers Company Limited (DCL) in 1982 and the buildings were demolished in 1993.

The area has largely been redeveloped as a staff car park for the Cambus Cooperage facility.

References:

Archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk

breweryhistory.com

Fotki.com (Dray Truck)

Alloa Ale - A History of the Brewing Industry in Alloa - Charles McMaster