Bentley's Brewery

Bob Dobson · 15-12-2008, 00:24

I have been contacted by an Accrington lad who lives in exile near barrow in Furness. He has seen a photo of Bentley's Milnshaw Brewery and read about it in 'Accrington Acclaimed' His ancestor was head brewer there and he has an interest in the pub trade. he asks if anyo0ne can say where the brewers of a century ago would buy there barley. Might it be grown in the Ribble Valley? He has read in an old brewery trade book that the best water for ale brewing was from the Trent - but the second best in terms of quality was found in Accrington ( I'm sure it wasn't from the Hyndburn).

I have promised to find for him about brewing in Accrington before Bentleys owned the Milnshaw brewery. I suspect that they were not the first to brew there. I have reminded him that malt Street was almost certainly named after the brewery and told him that I would try to find out when Malt Street first appeared. ( What''s the betting that retlaw will come up with a date?)

Besides Bentley's, who sold out to John Smith's about 1927, we had the Bank Brewery up Burnley Rd, and a member in Germany is likely to tell us something about that.His ancestor was head brewer there.

Some years ago I wrote about Bentley's Brewery and their local pubs ( The Junction, the Blockade and a few others,) in 'An accrington Mixture' I cannot find it on my shelves or I would write a bit more now. he has promised to give me a looksee at the brewery's 1905 inventory. Even the names of the dray horses are recalled. Wonderful stuff.

Lastly, this lad had read in 'Accrington Acclaimed' that the device for lifting barrels out of the cellar was still on the wall of the former club premises in Hill Street, Bash. He tells me that there is a name for this device - a cat's head. It was used when hoisting barrels using a block and tackle.

cashman · 15-12-2008, 00:50

once heard that the old black bull (my local at that time) was the "Grain Court" back in the day, how true that is i do not know? have tried to get info about it to no avail. but have no idea what a grain court entailed, but its the same area, so who knows?

Bob Dobson · 15-12-2008, 09:39

I suspect that this won't be correct. The Bull was built at the best location for a pub to catch travellers over what was initially a ford.It was possibly the earliest pub in the tow. The brewery would want their store close to the other facilities, ie bottom of Milnshaw lane. They would of course have the use of the corn mill which was just under the railway arch, very close by. It was powered by the river.The Black Bull as we remember it was purpose-built by Thwaites, a rival company.

I have just remembered that an Accrington Grammar school lad, Antony Portno, a chemist, was on the board of Bass Brewery, so i will ask him about the quality of Accrington water for brewing. The Milnshaw brewery had its own well.Another AGSOB, Barrie Langton, was also on the Bass board . He was in charge of Holiday Inns.

Retlaw · 15-12-2008, 15:06

( What''s the betting that retlaw will come up with a date?)

Well I can tell thee this much, it were'nt theer in the 1860's although the outline of the proposed developement,and the names of the streets that were going to be built, are already named on the 1866 street plan.

Probably in the building boom that took place from the late 1880's 1910.

Retlaw.

Bob Dobson · 15-12-2008, 19:31

Retlaw can be replied upon to rise to the bate. Good lad. He likes a challenge ( as does his wife). The library tell me that the brewery was on Peeel-owned land in 1869, thougn Malt St had not been laid down, just planned. (Nearby Knowlmere st was named after the peel residence near Clitheroe.) I have an old advert for the brewery which shows it with a large yard and outbuildings, so this was probably the Malt St site.

Retlaw · 15-12-2008, 20:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Dobson

Retlaw can be replied upon to rise to the bate. Good lad. He likes a challenge ( as does his wife). The library tell me that the brewery was on Peeel-owned land in 1869, thougn Malt St had not been laid down, just planned. (Nearby Knowlmere st was named after the peel residence near Clitheroe.) I have an old advert for the brewery which shows it with a large yard and outbuildings, so this was probably the Malt St site.

Your a sarcastic ****** Bodson.
Hope your hemeroids grow to the size of walnuts.
and its spelt BAIT not bate.

Retlaw.

tosh · 16-12-2008, 19:30

there was or still is a building at the top of malt st facing the back of whalley road church,
it was a pie factory when i was a lad.what was that originally?

Atarah · 26-12-2008, 19:15

re brewery that used to be in Burnley Road, am well intrigued. who is the descendant now living in Germany? I have some smashing photos of the old brewery and often wonder why the land has never been built upon.
atarah

Bob Dobson · 26-12-2008, 21:33

The brewery was owned by Dewhirst & Williams and I think called Bank Brewery. The man in germany is Paul Sutcliffe. I will send him one to look at this thread. I have always thought that the land couldn't be built on because there is a well there.

Wynonie Harris · 27-12-2008, 23:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Atarah

re brewery that used to be in Burnley Road, am well intrigued. who is the descendant now living in Germany? I have some smashing photos of the old brewery and often wonder why the land has never been built upon.
atarah

Where was the brewery in Burnley Road?

Bob Dobson · 28-12-2008, 00:22

A bit higher up than Alice Street on the left going up Buirnley rd. Very close to t' Stanley's gropubnf peel park. Opposite Ashworth Heys ( accrington garages) Close by the Peel Park Bowling Club.

Wynonie Harris · 28-12-2008, 10:29

Right, I know where you mean...that little bit of open space with a couple of benches on it. I never knew that! Cheers, Bob.