The brewery was founded by Joseph Ansell in 1858 at Aston Cross on the site of several artesian wells, at 52°30′00″N1°52′55″W / 52.500, -1.8820Coordinates: 52°30′00″N1°52′55″W / 52.500, -1.8820 (the later HP Sauce factory was adjacent). Ansells became a limited company in 1901 and grew by acquiring several other smaller local brewers including Rushtons (1923), Lucas of Leamington (1928) and Holt's Brewery (1934). Holt's logo, a Red Squirrel seen in side profile, was subsequently adopted by Ansells to identify its own beers.