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Brewing's back in Wrexham Town
Until recently, Wrexham Town had only its brewing history... But all that has changed!
Until hops arrived on our shores, ale drinkers were subjected to ales infused with fruits, herbs and spices. Most farms and large households brewed ales and ale houses were rustic affairs but readily available in most towns and hamlets. Within the brewing history of Wrexham, taverns mainly brewed their own ales, only buying in beer around the 19th century onwards.
Brewing was often done by women, the ‘Ale-wives’. Useful in many ways, women could combine the domestics of brewing (some may call it ‘witchcraft’) alongside their role to ‘keep their man happy’. A true lover of the role of women, Henry VIII felt the brewing and selling of ale was wasted on the fairer sex, who perhaps could be put to use in better ways! He therefore banned women under 40 from the manufacturing and retailing of ale. He was obviously not aware that 40 is the new 20!!!
Wrexham town was on par with Burton on Trent and Warrington as one of the brewing ‘heavy-weights’. All these towns having one thing in common, excellent water (liquor) sources. The sand and gravel around Wrexham provides excellent filtration for water leaching down to the impervious bed rock. Wrexham stands upon a fault; to the east is hard water, high in minerals and fabulous for brewing; whilst to the west the lower mineral content is more suited to lager type beers. However in the 1800’s the church and taxes played a major part in the location of Wrexham’s breweries. Wrexham was divided into Wrexham Abbott and Wrexham Regis, with the Abbott of Valle Crucis Abbey (Llangollen) being a cheaper landlord than the Crown. Well done to those merry monks…
By the 1860’s there were 19 breweries in Wrexham. Some smaller breweries were attached to pubs like the Nag’s and the Swan. The large brewery owners had status and held positions of power, many becoming mayors and philanthropists. Even the scriptures in St Giles’ Parish Church were read from the lectern paid for by ale monies. Some of the old brewery names are still evident in place names around Wrexham, for example:
- Island Green Brewery
- Soames' Brewery
- Mitre Brewery (back to those merry monks)
- Albion Brewery
- Eagle Brewery
- Butron's Brewery
- Bridge Street Brewery
- Cambrian Brewery
- Willow Brewery
With depression, demise and conglomeration grew the larger Border Breweries, later swallowed up by Marston’s, and the famous Wrexham Lager brewery, which closed in 2000, the site becoming a retail park.
All around Wrexham the brewing heritage is distinctive, with place names, brewing related architecture and trendy flats converted from bonded warehouses. But yet, the sweet smell of malt in the air has long been a scent of the past…until now.
Three real ale drinking, ale brewing acquaintances (all girls, except Keith) have joined forces to regenerate Wrexham Town’s brewing past and re-launch brewing into Wrexham’s future with ‘Sandstone Brewery’. After 2 years in the planning, weekly meetings held in the local hostelry – The Gredington Arms; we are nearing ‘Brew’ day. The first ale, Sandstone Edge will be casked on 21st October 2008 and on sale in your local from Bonfire Night.
Why Sandstone, why not…it sounds solid and reliable, and despite having the tendency to look weather-beaten, it stands the test of time. A bit like us three really!! Actually Sandstone is a principal stone around these parts and is noticeably prominent around the built environment of Wrexham and the surrounding villages, linking in nicely with our branding – our Village Range. All our villages are packed with local characters, personalities you just can’t forget or avoid. Yes we all know who I’m referring to - perhaps you live next door to one. So look out for your neighbour on our pump clips….Starting this Christmas!
You’ll be relieved to read none of us aim to be mayor and Henry VIII legacy remains in order. Our aim is to produce consistently good ale that you and I can drink over and over again with pleasure and satisfaction:
‘So up with the glass and down with the ale’
Sandstone_BreweryAles of Character Cheers! Sarah |
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