13/03/2010 by admin.

Colin Vosper has asked:

Dear Jeff
I am researching family history connected to Curnow Vosper the artist whose father owned the Regent Brewery in Stonehouse Plymouth until it was taken over by or formed into Plymouth Breweries. In fact Samuel Vosper was recorded as managing director in 1902 of the Plymouth Breweries Group. Do you have any information about the formation of the group and indeed its following development and takeover within the Courage Brewery enterprise?
I have checked your website and seem to be unable to find anything so wondered if you could offer any suggestions or help.

Kind regards
Colin Vosper

Posted in Devon, Brewery Queries | No Comments »

12/03/2010 by admin.

We have had a query from Doug Gooch:

Dear Sir.

I am trying to trace the history of a family bible that I have in my possesion. Inscribed on the first page is the following.

This bible belongs to James and Louisa Waterman, Stoney Lane Brewery, Parish of St Olaves, Southwark. 1837. Married at St Johns, Clerkenwell, April 22 1837. The family history continues on the following pages. I would be grateful for any information or links concerning either the brewery or the family.

Posted in London, Brewery Queries | 1 Comment »

17/01/2010 by Jeff Sechiari.

Tonight’s (17/01/10) Countryfile (BBC tv) included a visit to Wadworth in Devizes, looking at the shire horses, the cooper and the signwriter. This should be repeated later in the week and will presumably be on the iPlayer (a piece of technology beyond my very slow broadband connection)

Posted in TV | No Comments »

14/01/2010 by Jeff Sechiari.

Dear Sir/madam, 

I am just wondering if you can help me.  I have come across a few old bottles which I used to collect. In with them was the one I have sent an image of,  can you tell me anything about it as I am having no luck on the internet. 

Your help and knowledge would be most helpful,

Yours faithfully,

Mrs S Fletcher

Posted in Brewery Queries | 1 Comment »

08/01/2010 by Jeff Sechiari.

David Priest is researching Holt Brothers of Burnham and a number of us have sent him images of labels in our collections.

Richard Lilley has sent the attached photograph of a couple of Coronation bottles in his collection - they are covered in what looks liek clingfilm to protect the labels. Richard says:

I saw your letter in the newsletter and thought you might like the enclosed picture. I aquired the two bottles a few years ago from a dealer in the north, he said they came from the head brewer’s office when the brewery closed. The interesting thing is that one bottle has a date for 1937 hand written on the label and the other has the date 1953 hand written but with different handwriting to the 1937 bottle. It was suggested that spare 1937 labels were used on the first 1953 bottles then the colour of the label changed from purple to dark red for the later bottles.
Season’s Greetings
Richard Lilley

Posted in Somerset | No Comments »

08/01/2010 by Jeff Sechiari.

It occurred to me that as a history society we should really make a point of recording our own! Especially as our 40th anniversary is coming up in a couple of years’ time

If you have any memories of the early days of the BHS, or any documentation (other than Newsletters, which we have), we would love to hear from you.

Thanks

Jeff

Posted in BHS | No Comments »

24/12/2009 by Jeff Sechiari.

To everyone involved with the BHS, we hope you and your family have a

Very Happy Christmas and very best wishes the for the New Year

Thank you for all of your past support.

We hope you continue to enjoy being involved and look forward to another year full of Journals, Newsletters, books and visits.

From all of us on your committee at the Brewery History Society

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

01/12/2009 by Jeff Sechiari.

“Brewery Lingo  -  The Language of Beer and Brewing - an English Project presentation” by Prof Chris Mulvey This exciting talk is to be given on Friday 4th December 2009 at 7.30pm. at Warren Hall, Micheldever Station, Nr Winchester, Hampshire SO21 3AR.  The Hall is in easy walking distance of the mainline Waterloo-Southampton railway station with regular connections to Portsmouth, Winchester, Reading etc.  It is also close to junctions from A34, A303, and M3. Attendance free to members of Brewery History Society. Further info contact Sue Bell at info@warrenhall.org

Posted in Talks | No Comments »

16/10/2009 by Jeff Sechiari.

A question on hops from Switzerland

 Hello from Switzerland!I’m taking part to a medieval reconstitution group in ma area (Fribourg) in Switzerland, specialized in 1420 – 1480 and for the artisanal aspect of the life at this range. I’m trying to find as you suspect beer recipe and process. Do you cover this on your blog in England? I cannot find.Or maybe in Europe/France/Germany/Switzerland ? Everything I found is starting 1600/1700.If I’m not wrong hops are landing into throws around 1400-1450 in England no, in parallel with the gruit ale? Beer vs ale :o)I ask also to Durden Park, but they don’t have source for this period. Maybe you?Or do you know medieval group around in UK?Brewerly, Dom   

We copied this to Ian Hornsey who replied as follows. Other contributions, as ever, would be very welcome

Regarding the enquiry, I have no reliable records of recipes from this era. Being ‘inland’, and far from the Hansa towns further north, I suspect that the hop would not have been used for brewing in medieval Switzerland. Cultivation of the plant may not have reached that far south. I suggest that Dom looks at Unger’s two books, and Nordland’s epic (even tho’ the latter relates to matters further north). Also, advise him to look up details of the old monastery at St. Gall - I know of early records, but there might be some later ones. He will almost certainly know about this.

 References are:Nordland, Odd. Brewing and Beer Traditions in Norway. Universitetsforlaget, Oslo. 1969.Unger, R.W. A History of Brewing in Holland 900-1900. Brill, Leiden. 2001. Unger, R.W. Beer in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. University of Pennsylvania Press, Philadelphia. PA. 2004.  (Austria mentioned on pp.50, 54, 107, 161, 217, 246 - no mention of Switzerland) Best,Ian

Posted in Hop industry | No Comments »

12/10/2009 by Jeff Sechiari.

David Dines has just told me about a forthcoming talk at 8.00pm on December 17th at the Watford & District Industrial History Society on the ‘The Craft of the Cooper’, together with their social evening.

Visitors are welcome, a minimum donation of £3 is requested.

The event is at St. Thomas’ Church Hall, Langley Road, Watford.

Their web site address is www.wadihs.org.uk 

Posted in Talks | No Comments »