Monday 31 August 2020

Making connections

Now that I've decided to go with the Barclay Perkins in WW II book, I've been dredging the depths of my archive photographs. I've loads of material I've done little or nothing with.

But that wasn't the case with these two documents. Yet I still hadn't noticed the connection between the two.

The first is a brewing record, where these comments appear in the inside cover: 

“SEPT. 11th 1940 Bomb in Park St. outside Engineers Office. Boiler House closed. No injured.
SEPT. 16th 1940 Bomb through Porter Side No. 1 cop. & M.T.
SEPT. 29/30 1940 Bomb through Ale Side Nos. 3, 4, 5 & 6 M.T.s. Nos. 3, 4 & 5 Cop. Ale Side Hop Back.”
Barclay Perkins brewing record held at the London Metropolitan Archives, document number ACC/2305/01/623.

The last bomb in the Ale side seems to have been pretty serious, with four mash tuns, three coppers and the hop back damaged.

It probably explains the next circular letter. I'd looked at it so many times, as it pinpoints when some beers were discontinued. But I missed one crucial sentence. See if you can spot it.

4th November, 1940.

Dear Sir or Madam,

SUPPLY OF BEERS.
We are pleased to tell you that on and after Monday 11th November we hope to be able to deliver all your requirements of Draught and Bottled Beers.

Please therefore send your orders to reach us 24 hours before your correct day of delivery (by telephone if possible as the post is uncertain).

Owing to our restricted plant we nave been compelled to limit the number and types of Beers we can supply. The list of Beers we shall supply will be as follows:-

RETAIL PRICE

per pint.
Porter 8d
Best Stout 1/-
XX (Mild. Ale Light) 9d
X (Mild Ale Dark) 8d
A Ale 7d
KK Burton 1/-
XLK Bitter 10d
KKKK Old Burton


The Beers mentioned below will be discontinued.

XX (Mild Ale Dark)
X (Mild Ale Light)
P.A. (Best Bitter)    

Yours faithfully,
BARCLAY, PERKINS & CO., LTD.
Barclay Perkins circular letters, held at the London Metropolitan Archives, document number ACC/2305/01/521/1.

 What was the sentence? 

"Owing to our restricted plant we have been compelled to limit the number and types of Beers we can supply."

The restricted plant would have been the result of the bomb damage.Which was particularly bad on the Ale side. All three beers which were dropped were Ales. The letter is dated just a few days after the bomb hit.


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