Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

A brewery with maltings was established on the east side of Broad Street in 1828 by Bennett & Beer. called St. Augustine's Brewery. In 1898, the brewery was acquired by B. C. Bushell & Co. Ltd of Westerham. Brewing ceased in 1899 and the brewery was probably demolished in the early 20th century.

Monument Types

• BREWERY (Post Medieval - 1828 AD to 1900 AD?)

Full description

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The Canterbury UAD states that a brewery with maltings was established on the east side of Broad Street in 1828 by Bennett & Beer called St. Augustine's Brewery. Its was known as St. Augustine's Brewery as it was situated close to the Fyndon Gate of St. Augustine's Abbey, and is listed as such in Pigot's Directory for 1828.

Pigot's Directory for 1832 also lists St. Augustine's Brewery with William Beer as owner. Pigot's Directory for 1840 also lists a sales outlet at 49 Burgate run by Edward and John Frederick Bennett. In 1865 a Mineral Water Works was added to the complex in Broad Street.

By 1882 the brewery had changed its name to the Original Brewery, Alfred Beer & Co. listed in Steven's Postal Directory of 1882, and was still listed as Beer & Co. Original Brewery in Pikes Local Blue Book of 1897.

In c. 1898 the brewery was acquired by B. C. Bushell & Co. Ltd of Westerham. Brewing ceased in c. 1899 and the brewery was probably demolished in the early 20th century. The site then became Idris soft drinks Depot and Yard. In Kelly's Directory of 1931 the Site is listed as occupied by T. Wall & Son Ice Cream Depot.

The site was re-developed in more recent times and now, 2002, the site is occupied by the Magistrates Court.

Norman Barber (Brewery History Society 1994), A Century of British Brewers 1890-1990 (Bibliographic reference). SKE6449.

Pigot & Co., 1828, Pigot & Co's. London and Provincial Directory (Article in serial). SKE29961.

Pigot & Co., 1832, Pigot & Co's. Commercial Directory (Article in serial). SKE29960.

Pigot & Co., 1840, Pigot & Co's. Royal, National and Commercial Directory and Topography of the County of Kent (Article in serial). SKE29962.

Ordnance Survey, 1874, 1st Edition Map of Canterbury 1874 (Map). SKE30106.

Steven's Directories, 1882, Steven's Directory of Canterbury and Neighbourhood, with Faversham, Herne Bay, Whitstable and all villages within a circuit of six miles from Canterbury. (Article in serial). SKE29959.

Pikes Directories, 1897, Pikes Local Blue Book for Canterbury and District, Herne Bay & Whitstable (Article in serial). SKE29958.

Kelly's Directory, 1931, Kelly's Directory of Canterbury, Whitstable, Herne Bay, & with map (Article in serial). SKE29963.

Eve, D. & Stead, P., 1998, The Malting Industry in Kent Results of a Sites and Monuments Record Enhancement Project (Monograph). SKE7360.

Sources and further reading