Brewing and Malting

Preamble
These two closely linked trades have left a number of visible relics in our area. Malting is the process of producing malt from barley; brewing turns malt into beer. Each process required characteristic buildings for its effective production.

Malting involves keeping moist barley warm until it germinates so that starch in the grain is converted into sugar; the temperature is then raised to kill the germinating seed. Maltings (the buildings where the process is carried on) have a number of low storeys and a kiln to generate heat; louvred openings are also a feature: no Alcester malthouse survives in this form.

A brewery is usually tall and tower-like; the materials (malt and water) are hauled to the top and mixed together and journey down by gravity as they go through various stages in the brewing process. At one time every small town had its brewery; cheaper transport and the growth of large national breweries have made an end of most of them. Many public houses previously brewed their own beer in small brewhouses in the backyards. The Turk’s Head, The Rose and Crown and the Golden Lion in Alcester had breweries at one time but none remains. Malt Mill Lane in Alcester is a reminder of the malting trade; once there were seven malting kilns (VCH)

Ref.	Location	Ordnance Survey	Notes
A 26	Henley Street	SP 091576	Stood behind "Bakers Arms" and owned and worked by Alcester Brewery; brick built and capable of deal ing with 4 quarters (about 256 gallons) of grain. Probably demolished with "Bakers Arms" late 1920’s.
A 41	High Street	SP 089574	Part of buildings of former Alcester Builders; small malthouse with iron grid couching floor on which malting barley was spread; still intact.
A 42	Old Malt House	SP 091574	Corner of Malt Mill Lane, converted to shop and residence; dates from 1540 (VCH); no remains.

Ref.	Location	Ordnance Survey	Notes
A 24	Meeting Lane	SP 092575	Nothing remains of brewery tower but bow-fronted window of 2, Church St. was brewery office and off licence; some outbuildings behind remain. Brewery yard opened into Meeting Lane. Brewery was rebuilt in 1886, so existed before this; sold in 1889 and 1899 and described in sale catalogue (EAC 152, CRO) Had steam engine for power with "Cornish" boiler which powered hoist for grain, etc. Brewing ceased c. l914. Photograph of brewery c. 1889 in Society’s possession.
A 25	"Golden Lion" Inn	SP 088574	When pub was to be sold in 1890 a notice in "Alcester Chronicle" described it as having buildings formerly used for brewing. Pub closed 29th June 1935; now a private house in Priory Road; no remains of brewhouse.
			Nothing is left of brewhouses behind former "Turk’s Head" and "Rose and Crown".
St 243	Studley	SP 073641	Opposite present Studley Garage, to E. of "Barley Mow" was Studley Brewery, ran by Samuel Thompson, Maltster of Smethick up to 1870’s. Building used as garage to 1930’s; there are no remains.
St 245	Studley	SP 073638	South of "Bell" Inn near present Needle Industries canteen stood the "Bell" brewery; built c. 1880, stopped brewing c. 1960; owned by John Thompson, a Scotsman who had worked for Studley Brewery; brewed about 32 barrels (1152 gallons) at a time. Owned the "Turk’s Head", Alcester. Taken over by Mitchell and Butler c. 1962.