Gray and Dacre Brewery

The Gray and Dacre Brewery operated in West Ham, Essex, in the first half of the 19th century.

It was set up by John Gray (1791-1826) and a member of the Dacre family, which was resident in West Ham for several generations until the 1860s (possibly Francis Dacre, who is described on the 1841 census as a "brewer"). John Gray's father, the brewer Owen Gray, of March, Cambridgeshire, had helped him financially to set up the business in West Ham.

John Gray died in 1826, leaving his widow, Lydia (1794-1855), to manage the business along with the Dacre family. The Gray and Dacre Brewery was eventually sold by auction in 1846 to Charrington and Co..

John Gray is buried under the floor of the nave of All Saints' Church, West Ham

John Gray married Lydia Shears, the youngest daughter of the coppersmith James Shears. Through her he was connected to many of the leading brewers of the day, including James Watney.