Firstly, the former Tadcaster Tower Brewery's building (later a Bank) was only an admin office and that Company never actually brewed in the Town. However, White's Directory of the 1840s does list two 'legal' breweries which some folk may nor be aware of - Messrs Harry Hildyard & Robert Darcey are mentioned as 'Brewers and Maltsters', along with another separate one, run by Martin Johnson.
Dates and venues aren't known, but as they're listed, they just wouldn't be micro breweries set up in a room at the back of the bar, as so many unlicensed beershops did around the place in addition to all the 'proper' pubs, although that late great Brigg legend Matt Hutchinson did often speak about helping his Dad do such a thing at his Rose & Crown.
Secondly, some omissions...
Brigg's only modern purpose-built pub, the Ancholme, a 'local' for all the new Council house tenants needs down at the end of Grammar School Road, acquired the licence of the old Ancholme Inn (later Currys electrical goods store) which stood in the Market Place by the bridge.
Likewise, the King William IV on the corner of Bigby Street and Cross Street, built to cash in on the 'new' railway trade, closed and both its name and licence were transferred to Scawby Brook (more familiarly the King Billy).
Similarly, the Lord Nelson, which was originally situated in the Butchery (later Elwes Street) before it was transferred to Bigby Street, taking a bow window with it in the process!
Hardy's Bar was later attached, taking over the shop next door.
The tiny Cross Keys operated in Little Butchery, part of what is now Scalinis fish and chip shop (earlier W.H. Smith the newsagents).
A boarded-off bow window is the evidence of what remains where the beer was handed out through a serving hatch.
And lastly, The Exchange - constructed initially as a place for farmers to gather socially and 'exchange' their corn, that is until the Corn Exchange was built specifically for that purpose, although farmers always tended to use the Angel in preference!
The Exchange subsequently housed a school and then a Gentlemen's Club before becoming both a drinking hole with accommodation.
Incidentally, regarding Ken Harrison's comment about the beer being strong back in the good old days. How does he know this? It was most likely watered down a bit as a means of making more profit, but my experience of Sergeant's was that it was very nice, but pretty weak, and that is probably why 'achieving double figures' was relatively easy, in particular to the navvies who had a need to drink all day!
It is said that when a Town loses its pubs, then it also loses its soul. I say 'Cheers! to Brigg of old.
Revealed - the 30+ pubs of old Brigg (by Josie Webb)
Brigg pubs and hotels of the past: How many did YOU frequent (by Brigg Blog)
PICTURED: Still going strong today, the Exchange Coach House Inn, viewed here from Bigby Street.
9 comments:
Beer strength has been progressively reduced since WW1.
Sugar rationing and various government incentives to reduce incidences of drunkenness during times of conflict affected brewing strengths.
Following WW1, beer strength remained at the lower level.....although Irish brewers ie Guinness were not particularly affected....and may account for their popularity during the interwar years to the present day.
Whether the beers were watered down by publicans to increase profits is separate from the measured strength of ale as it left the brewery.
As a matter of educated conjecture, with Brigg having a number of local breweries and it's immediate pub outlets, it would be difficult for local landlords to water down their brews.
In recent years, some well known beers have been purposely reduced in strength.....apart from savings on basic ingredients, the is also notion that punters are more likely to consume more pints per visit.
With the old wooden barrels, it was comparatively quite easy for unscrupulous landlords to recycle spillage back into the barrel thro' the top venting bung.
I understand that it was more difficult to detect such contamination in mild....a very popular, cheaper pint of yesteryear.
The annexe to the Lord Nelson...Hardy's Bar was previously called the Jolly Roger.
It was a very popular venue for discos in the late 80s..it operated about twice a week and was crowded by young drinkers.
It became Hardy's after the Nelson was modernised.
The annexe to the Lord Nelson...Hardy's Bar was previously called the Jolly Roger.
It was a very popular venue for discos in the late 80s..it operated about twice a week and was crowded by young drinkers.
It became Hardy's after the Nelson was modernised.
Beer strength has been progressively reduced since WW1.
Sugar rationing and various government incentives to reduce incidences of drunkenness during times of conflict affected brewing strengths.
Following WW1, beer strength remained at the lower level.....although Irish brewers ie Guinness were not particularly affected....and may account for their popularity during the interwar years to the present day.
Whether the beers were watered down by publicans to increase profits is separate from the measured strength of ale as it left the brewery.
As a matter of educated conjecture, with Brigg having a number of local breweries and it's immediate pub outlets, it would be difficult for local landlords to water down their brews.
In recent years, some well known beers have been purposely reduced in strength.....apart from savings on basic ingredients, the is also notion that punters are more likely to consume more pints per visit.
With the old wooden barrels, it was comparatively quite easy for unscrupulous landlords to recycle spillage back into the barrel thro' the top venting bung.
I understand that it was more difficult to detect such contamination in mild....a very popular, cheaper pint of yesteryear.
For info...
Before WW1, there was legislation to ban women working behind bars...circa 1908.
At the outbreak of WW1, the Defence of the Realm Act severely reduced the permitted opening hours of pubs.
Whistling was banned as it could be mistaken as an air raid warning. (accepting that there was no standardised method for such an emergency)
'Buying a Round' was banned as it became illegal to purchase a drink for someone else.
.....
The consumption of alcohol was banned in the trenches of the Western Front....however, Fortnum and Mason's hampers for officers (assuming that their class were the only ones to afford such) contained opium and similar drugs........so it could be argued that masses of sober soldiers were led over Noman's Land by some officers high on Class 1 drugs.
For info...
Before WW1, there was legislation to ban women working behind bars...circa 1908.
At the outbreak of WW1, the Defence of the Realm Act severely reduced the permitted opening hours of pubs.
Whistling was banned as it could be mistaken as an air raid warning. (accepting that there was no standardised method for such an emergency)
'Buying a Round' was banned as it became illegal to purchase a drink for someone else.
.....
The consumption of alcohol was banned in the trenches of the Western Front....however, Fortnum and Mason's hampers for officers (assuming that their class were the only ones to afford such) contained opium and similar drugs........so it could be argued that masses of sober soldiers were led over Noman's Land by some officers high on Class 1 drugs.
Depending upon one's personal definition of Brigg as a town...either that part of Brigg's infrastructure with the parish boundary...or alternatively, the wider concept of Brigg's urbanisation and influence over adjoining communities, then The Horse and Cart in Scawby Brook could also be considered, in addition to the Ancholme, as a purposely built modern pub.....both now demolished.
For interest, Scunthorpe as a town comprises a number of parishes, historically representing the amalgated urbanisation of settlements such as Crosby, Frodingham, Brumby etc.
Scawby, Wrawby and Bigby parishes camemail into brigg until quite recently
The population of Brigg as a registration district is about 5500...if one includes parts of the adjoining registration districts of Scawby Brook, Waters Edge and even Wrawby ( as represented by a number of dwellings on the Springbank estate, the population would be about 6500.
While these adjoining communities could be legitimately argued as being part of Brigg town, a simple reality is that about 15 percent of the overall financial benefit of a council's precept is being 'lost' to other parishes.
More significantly, future growth of Brigg town will invariably be outside the defined Brigg parish boundary.
Consequently, Brigg Town Council will have no direct influence over proposed peripheral developments.....all the heart-ache, with no reward.
Brigg survives by attracting folk from outside the town. It's sphere of influence is much greater than it official population suggests...however, it financial income is related to it population, but is expected to offer facilities for a much greater number of visitors....ie public toilets, litter, floral decorations and promotion of events.....all from a relatively thin slice of the financial cake.
Such circumstances will be exacerbated as Brigg evolves and expands....unless the parish boundary is allowed to become elastic and encompass those communities which already exist under Brigg town urban umbrella..
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