I attended this talk last night, together with four other local CAMRA members. We found it absorbing, and Phil Wood had dug out some fascinating, photos, maps and old documents; some dating back to the early 17th century.

How sad that none of this great brewing heritage remains in Newbury. The chances of a micro brewery starting up in the town are minimal, given the sort of development that West Berkshire Council are sponsoring.

Why should the council be sponsoring a brewery and why not start you own?

Quoted from user23.3

Why should the council be sponsoring a brewery and why not start you own?

I don't think he said they should.  Also, I understand at some point in the past he did.

I believe that Brewmaster's brewery was a bit different from Newbury's former breweries - it didn't produce beer!

Quoted from blackdog

I believe that Brewmaster's brewery was a bit different from Newbury's former breweries - it didn't produce beer!

Oh yes it did, but not for sale!

The sun is a bit far in the West for me to think of starting such a venture, although I did try to set one up before both Butts and West Berkshire Brewery were started.

My comment about the council was not that they should sponsor such a venture, but that the sort of developments they prefer are like Parkway, where the cost of premises would be prohibitive for any small, start-up business.

Do try to keep up, user 23.3!

Indeed, access to some areas of the town would make it harder for a drayman to operate.

I have a friend who has been presented with a bottle recovered from the excavations of the old Newmarket Inn, on the site of the new cinema.

They would like to find information on the company/brewery and the history of the bottle.

Details on the bottle are:

E. Cox and Sons, Newbury and Reading.

TIA for any information.

I can tell you that the owner/s of Pheonix Brewery provided a mortgage for a previous owner to purchase my present house - maybe they done so for others! This was, I believe in the 1920's. I have some details of this on the house deeds, and previous owner details.

Quoted from BrianB

E. Cox and Sons, Newbury and Reading.

Mineral water manufacturers - leased the old Diamond Brewery off Cheap St.

Quoted from blackdog

Mineral water manufacturers - leased the old Diamond Brewery off Cheap St.

Did that eventually become 'The Newbury Mineral Water Co' in King's Road West, I think there was the title Chequers somewhere in their portfolio, that's if one had a portfolio in those days. There are still some signs of the old works, notably the big wooden sliding door which gave access for loading.

Quoted from brian

Did that eventually become 'The Newbury Mineral Water Co' in King's Road West, I think there was the title Chequers somewhere in their portfolio, that's if one had a portfolio in those days. There are still some signs of the old works, notably the big wooden sliding door which gave access for loading.

I don't think so but it might have done, but I think the Newbury Mineral Water Co was a different company though there was some Cox involvement.   Someone is researching Berkshire mineral water companies - I'll check with him next time our paths cross.

The premises in Kings Road - or Gashouse Road or Back Lane - were previously the Albion Brewery.  However, the big wooden door is no more - it has been replaced by what looks like a big metal door.

Quoted from blackdog

However, the big wooden door is no more - it has been replaced by what looks like a big metal door.

That's a shame, shows how observant I am though as I hadn't taken that on board.

Kings Rd West which was part of Kings Road before the A339 was originally Greenham Lane but I have no idea about the other streets/lanes that you mentioned. I do remember the old cattle slaughterhouse being a little south of the BT Tower and cattle being driven down there from the market to meet their fate.

Quoted from brian

Kings Rd West which was part of Kings Road before the A339 was originally Greenham Lane.

Gas House Road changed to Kings Road around 1895, Back Lane was the name when it was no more than a back way from Cheap St/St Mary Hill to the wharves. I suspect that Gas House Lane became Gas House Road in the 1870s - when the council had a road naming blitz prior to the large scale ordnance survey maps being surveyed.

The gas works were built opposite what was to become the Mineral Water Company in 1825ish, moved up to the Sterling Cables site in the late 1800s (1870/80s) and then up to the current site in Hambridge Road (not sure when - 1930s?).

I thought Greenham Lane was the one that led from the side of the Axe & Compass and alongside what was the builders merchants in the 80s (now part of Sainsbury's car park) - Winchombe Road at one time I think.  I am far from sure on this!

Quoted from blackdog

I thought Greenham Lane was the one that led from the side of the Axe & Compass and alongside what was the builders merchants in the 80s (now part of Sainsbury's car park) - Winchombe Road at one time I think.  I am far from sure on this!

The John Willis map of 1768 shows and names that road, easily identified by the King Charles Tavern building on the corner with Cheap Street.

The KC is No 70 and No 71 is The Sun. No73 Weaver's Arms and 74 the Pigeons with 72 The Newmarket
and 69 the Borough Arms with last but not least the recently demolished Rising Sun, now a KFC and a Cleaners.

A couple of other long gone's No 27 The Work House   No 26 St Mary's Almshouses and No 25 The Quakers burial Ground.