Antique Victorian late 19th or early 20th century J May brewery green bottle
Antique J. May & Co. Brewery Bottle — Basingstoke (Late 19th to Early 20th Century) Fabulous olive green bottle some very minor age related wear
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20 cm tall
7 cm round at base
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This handsome dark olive-green glass bottle comes from J. May & Co., Basingstoke, and would once have held beer or stout brewed along the Sussex coast. The bottle features boldly embossed lettering reading:
“J. MAY & Co – BREWERY – Basingstoke
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The bottle has a classic rounded shoulder and long neck with an early blob-style lip, typical of bottles produced in the late Victorian to Edwardian period (c.1880–1910). These bottles were made thick and durable to withstand pressure from fermentation, and many were reused countless times — making intact survivors like this particularly special.
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The glass is a gorgeous deep olive green, full of character with faint bubbles and ripples from the early glass-blowing process. A lovely example for collectors of antique bottles, Sussex brewing history, or decorative rustic interiors.
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Condition
• Very good antique condition
• No major chips or cracks seen
• Light surface wear consistent with age
• Embossing remains strong and legible
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A charming and authentic piece of English brewery history.
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About J. May & Co., Hastings
J. May & Co. operated as a local brewery in Hastings, East Sussex, during the late 19th and early 20th centuries — a time when almost every town had its own independent brewery supplying nearby inns, hotels, and households. Smaller breweries like J. May rarely survived the early-mid 20th century as industry consolidation and changing drinking habits saw many close or be absorbed into larger companies.
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Bottles such as this are one of the few surviving traces of these lost local breweries, making them highly collectible — especially when clearly embossed with the town name.
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Why We Love It
It’s not just a bottle — it’s a little time capsule from the days when beer was brewed locally and delivered by horse and cart. The rich olive-green tone and strong embossed lettering make it a striking decorative piece, whether displayed on a shelf, in a vintage bar set-up, or grouped with other antique bottles.
