stated that it was by mutual consent. Meanwhile, following the purchase of the Snig Brook Brewery in 1863, the brewery continued to prosper and develop in size. During this period, Eanam Brewery expanded production to provide 100,000 barrels a year by 1878. The business also had to adapt to various pieces of legislation, introduced by Gladstone's Liberal government. The 1869 Wine and Beer House Act gave licensing power back to the magistrates and was intended as a measure of control over the more unsavory beer shops. It was followed by the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Act of 1872, which introduced higher license fees, licensing inspectors, reduced opening hours, restrictions on the sale of spirits to those 'apparently under the age of 16', and increased penalties for licensing offences. Having become a wealthy man, Daniel Thwaites Jnr died in 1888, leaving his only daughter Elma Thwaites and her husband Robert Yerburgh to inherit the brewery. Expansion into the 20th century By 1897, Thwaites was registered as a Limited company. Following this business expansion, Thwaites bought James Pickup Wines & Spirits Company and then Henry Shaw & Co, which owned the New Brewery in Salford. In 1925, Thwaites began bottling its beers and in 1927, purchased Fountain Free Brewery. In 1946, Elma Yerburgh died, leaving colleague Albert Whittle to look after the brewery. The brewery continued to expand, purchasing the Bury Brewing Company in 1946 and the Preston Brewery Company in 1956. In 1966, the Eanam Brewery was extended and renamed Daniel Thwaites 'The Star Brewery'. During the 1960s, Thwaites public houses were in abundance across the town and Daniel Thwaites' ales had become popular throughout East Lancashire. 1966 saw the opening of the new £5.5m Brewery and brewhouse, followed in 1972 by a new £3m bottling plant. The 1970s and 1980s saw the purchase of Yates & Jackson of Lancaster. Throughout this time, John Yerburgh, Elma Yerburgh's grandson, was the Brewery's chairman. In 2002, John's wife, Mrs. Ann Yerburgh, became the Brewery chairman. John died in June 2014. In 2017, Thwaites was granted planning permission to build a new brewery, stables and head office in Mellor, around 5 miles from its current location in Blackburn. Shire horses The sound that was continuously heard in Blackburn throughout the 19th century was the clattering of horses hooves along the cobbled streets. The majority of these were work horses. Stable lads would lead the Thwaites