The brewing of beer in the Lea Valley can be traced back to 1827 when Peter Mc Mullen founded Mc Mullens Brewery. in 1860 Alexander and Osmond Mc Mullen take over from their father and begin a period of expansion. Trading as P. McMullen & Sons, over the next few decades they acquire the Star and Cannon Breweries and several pubs. In 1897 the business is incorporated and becomes a registered company. The pubs and head office assets are valued at £173,618. By 1910 McMullen & Sons, Limited is one of 1,284 brewing companies that existed in the UK. Today only 38 of these remain. Their current head office is situated in Hertford. Today there has been a consideral number of micro brewies being set up in the Lea Valley
