James Watney

James Watney (18 December 1800 – 16 March 1884 ) was an English brewer and landowner who resided at Haling Park, Croydon, and Beddington, Surrey.

Professional life The Watney family were the main partners in the Stag Brewery of Pimlico for much of the 19th century. In 1837, James Watney became a partner in the brewery with John Lettsom Elliot and Charles Lambert, as later did his sons James and Norman in 1856.

In 1898, it acquired Messrs. Combe Delafield and Co. and Messrs. Reid and Co., and was thereafter known as Messrs. Watney Combe & Reid. (now Southwark Cathedral), James Watney married Rebecca Spurrell, elder daughter of the brewer and hop merchant James Spurrell, of Park Street, Southwark, who was employed by Barclay & Perkins's Anchor Brewery, Southwark. They had nine children. All five daughters remained unmarried. Of the four sons, one (Frederick) died young, aged 8 in 1846. The other three were:

James Watney (1832–1886 ) of Beddington, Surrey, and Thorney House, Palace Gate, Kensington, was Conservative MP for East Surrey from 1871–1885 and Master of the Mercers' Company in 1879. He also played cricket for Surrey (1851) and Middlesex (1851–1852). Married Blanche Maria Georgiana Burrell in 1856. Norman Watney portrait(1834–1911 ) of Valance, Westerham, Kent, was educated at Harrow. He was a Justice of the Peace and a Deputy Lieutenant for Kent, and also served as Master of the Mercers' Company in 1880. He married Matilda Jane Robinson on 26 April 1866 at Clitheroe, Lancashire. He built Valence, Westerham (now a school) in 1885 and was the father of the missionaries Kate and Constance Watney. Herbert Watney (1843–1932 He was Senior Assistant Physician at St George's Hospital, London and Master of the Mercers' Company in 1915. He married Sarah Louisa Rainsford on 22 January 1872 at All Saints Church, Wandsworth, Surrey.

He was also uncle to John Watney who was secretary to the Mercers Company for many years.