The Hook Norton Brewery, Hook Norton, Oxfordshire
At the end of a short, but ridiculously narrow lane from the village, in the middle of the very rural north Oxfordshire countryside, this weird Victorian mirage opens up.
The family run business has been producing beer since the 1856, but this building was constructed in 1890's.
A 'tower' brewery, the raw materials were, and still are, added at the top and make their way down, floor by floor throughout the brewing process.
A large steam engine powered the building, and did so until 2006! It is still in situ and is still operated during the regular brewery tours.
The brewery still maintains three much loved Shire horses that take turns in twos to pull the dray, delivering its beer to the local village pubs within a 5 mile radius; a very picturesque sight along the local country lanes. Hugely popular at fetes and festivals they love a pint of beer at the pubs they visit, much to the delight of visitors and locals alike.
The brewery has about 47 'tied' houses (pubs).
I've taken better photos of this building but I kept the dull, flat lightless sky the day had become. The Pear Tree pub is about 100 yards down the lane behind me...the camera finally in the rucksack and the end of the walk! (but still the bouncy village bus home)
The Hook Norton Brewery, Hook Norton, Oxfordshire
At the end of a short, but ridiculously narrow lane from the village, in the middle of the very rural north Oxfordshire countryside, this weird Victorian mirage opens up.
The family run business has been producing beer since the 1856, but this building was constructed in 1890's.
A 'tower' brewery, the raw materials were, and still are, added at the top and make their way down, floor by floor throughout the brewing process.
A large steam engine powered the building, and did so until 2006! It is still in situ and is still operated during the regular brewery tours.
The brewery still maintains three much loved Shire horses that take turns in twos to pull the dray, delivering its beer to the local village pubs within a 5 mile radius; a very picturesque sight along the local country lanes. Hugely popular at fetes and festivals they love a pint of beer at the pubs they visit, much to the delight of visitors and locals alike.
The brewery has about 47 'tied' houses (pubs).
I've taken better photos of this building but I kept the dull, flat lightless sky the day had become. The Pear Tree pub is about 100 yards down the lane behind me...the camera finally in the rucksack and the end of the walk! (but still the bouncy village bus home)