Whitwell Mark Brewery

Operated by Whitwell Mark & Co Ltd ("The House of Whitwell") at 118 Highgate who also had their offices there.

Founded in 1757 by John Whitwell as a wine business on Highgate and registered as a private company in 1883. It was said that the cellars held over 40,000 gallons of wine.

William Mark bought the business and in 1853 the company built a new ale brewery in the garden of the Georgian town house that fronted Highgate.

By 1900 the company was one of the town's largest employers and best known industries.

Taken over by Vaux & Associated Breweries of Sunderland in 1946/7 with 30 tied houses it continued to brew until 18 September 1968 and when the offices were relocated in 1971 the frontage town house became a Youth Hostel and the industrial buildings behind were converted into the Brewery Arts Centre.