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Bob Dobson · 14-12-2008, 23:24

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.

14-12-2008, 23:24	#1
Bob Dobson Senior Member+ Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Staining, Blackpool Posts: 3,096 Liked: 407 times Rep Power: 158676	Bentley's Brewery 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.