Sunday 8 December 2013

A 19th-century Newark brewpub

This is dead interesting. For me, at least. I never realised that the Horse & Jockey had been a brewpub.

There's only one brewpub operated in the town in living memory. That was the Maple Leaf, and estate pub out on the eastern edge of town. Both pub and brewery are long gone.

I couldn't remember whether the later Horse & Jockey was a Warwicks or a Holes house. As it's not in the list of Holes pubs in the valuation carried out for Courage, it must have been a Warwicks pub.


"NEWARK-UPON-TRENT
To BREWERS, PUBLICANS, and Others.
To be SOLD by AUCTION,

By Mr. W. Wood, At the Horse and Jockey Inn in Newark-upon-Trent, on Wednesday the 2d day of April, 1873, at 4 for 5 o'clock in the Afternoon, subject to such conditions of sale as shall then and there declared,

A Valuable PROPERTY, which will be offered for sale in the following or such other lots as shall be arranged at the time of sale :—

Lot 1. An eligible and pleasantly situated old-established Wine and Spirit Licensed Free Public-house, known as the "Horse and Jockey Inn," situate in Balderton-gate, in NEWARK-UPON-TRENT, together with the Two quarter Brewery, extensive Yard, Stabling for horses, Crewyards, Garden, and Paddock thereto adjoining.


This lot, which has a Frontage to Balderton-gate of 134 Feet, contains an area of 3263 Square Yards, and is bounded the north by property Mr. Thomas Lane and by lot 4, on the east by lot 4 and by property of Mr. Crofts and Messrs. Heppenstall, and on the west by lots 2 and 3 and property of Miss Rastall and others. The Inn has been for many years in the occupation of the owner, Mr. Pridgeon, and on taking to the usual inventory possession will given at an early day, as may suit the convenience the purchaser.

Lot 2. Two Messuages or Dwelling-houses, with the Out-buildings and Gardens thereto belonging, situate in Balderton-gate aforesaid, and in the respective occupations of Mr. J. B. Crow and Mr. W. Clay.—This lot, which adjoins lot 1, comprises an area of 521 Square Yards.

Lot 3. A Messuage or Tenement, with the Yard and Out-buildings thereto belonging, situate in Cherryholt-lane, and in the occupation of George Ogden.—This lot comprises an area of 85 Square Yards.

Lot 4. A Garden, situate in William street, and Paddock at the back thereof, containing together 1108 Square Yards, and in the occupation of Mr Pridgeon.—This lot has a Frontage to William street of 30 Feet.

Possession or receipt of the rents will be given on 6th July next.

To view the premises apply to Mr. Pridgeon ; and for further particulars apply to the Auctioneer, Grantham ; to Mr. G. Sheppard, surveyor, Kirk-gate, Newark upon- Trent; or at our Offices in Newark-upon-Trent, where a Plan of the Property may seen.
PRATT and HODGKINSONS, Solicitors.
Newark-on-Trent, 11th March, 1873."
Stamford Mercury - Friday 14 March 1873, page 2.
A 2-quarter brewery is pretty small. From two quarters you'd get about 8 barrels of X Ale or Porter. Less of stronger beers. An amount of beer which a decent-sized pub should be able to shift.

Obviously the current pub is much more recent. 1930's, I believe. But based on that frontage of 134, it looks like the building there today is about the same width.

I wonder when the last 19th-century brewpub closed in Newark. It wouldn't surprise me if the Horse & Jockey were the last. With its well-developed industrial-scale breweries, Newark is exactly the sort of place where publican brewers disappeared first.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thinking about Newark breweries, do you remember the Westcrown Brewery which started up in the late 1970s ? I only had one pint of theirs , it was called Regal.
I don't think the brewery lasted for very long but understand that the name has been revived though not in Newark.

Ron Pattinson said...

I remember Westcrown. Their biggest problem was that they had no outlets in Newark. I think they weree around for two or three years.

The beer wasn't at all bad, much better than most micros.

Unknown said...

The original pub actually stands to the left of this building, it would have been attached to the building next door. If I can find a way to attach a photo from the book on the history of brewing in Newark and a photo I've taken to illustrate my point,I'd be delighted to to.