No time like the present

Image: © Neil Owen Taken: 30 Jul 2012

As the satellite dish shows, the old brewery buildings continue to serve a useful purpose to local businesses. The estate has had a chequered history: originally it was founded in 1864 by London firm Morrice, Cox and Clarke and was initially called the Shepton Mallet Pale Ale Brewery. During construction, remains were unearthed of first and second century pottery manufacture, incidentally. In 1871, the business was taken over by Hill, Garton and Company of Southampton, who subsequently expanded it; with the assistance of German technicians they produced Anglo-Bavarian beers in what was pretty much the first lager made in the UK. However, anti-German resentment around the outbreak of hostilities in 1914 and the prominence of the temperance movement caused the brewery to fail and in 1920 the business was put up for sale, including the last dray horse, an animal named 'Darling'. By 1926 it was bought by a Mr Bennett, who resumed the name and beer production. But once again war caused more resentment and the Air Ministry requisitioned the works for the war effort. After that, the buildings were used for warehousing and general small businesses, despite a number of attempts to sell off or demolish them. They are listed as Grade II* and are on English Heritage's 'At Risk' register.

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