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1890 - 1981 From Inn Sign to Trademark
With the dawn of a more modern era, competition among brewers was increasing and in 1893 the Ram trademark was registered. A Dorset horned ram was chosen as the brewery symbol, and in 1905 Ram Brand bottled beers began to roll out from a new bottling hall at the brewery.
The first world war had little impact on the company, but the second
world war saw the first woman employed on the site and, in 1940, bombs
hit a nearby Young's pub - the Bull, completely destroying it and
damaging the cask shed roof. The Ram Inn was also damaged in the air
raids as were a number of other Young's pubs - some of which had to be
rebuilt.After the war, the company needed to modernise and invest in its growing number of pubs. It became a publicly quoted company on the London Stock Exchange in 1955, and in 1962, John Allen Young, great-great-grandson of the firm's founder, became Chairman. He quickly became instrumental in promoting traditional draught beer in all Young's pubs, sticking to his guns even though almost all other brewers were abandoning what became known as 'real ale'.
Also in 1962, the company built on its bottling capabilities by buying independent bottlers Foster-Probyn, not only one of the biggest and oldest bottling firms but renowned for their quality. This was followed in 1973 by the purchase of Cockburn and Campbell Ltd., wine merchants of Edinburgh and London since 1796.
Local people and brewery workers turned out in force in 1981 when Queen Elizabeth II visited the brewery to celebrate Young's 150th anniversary.
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