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ROYAL NAVY ESTABLISHMENTS
KING'S BREWERY
The King's Brewery, a part of the
Victualling Office,
was situated at Southdown, just outside Millbrook, on the Cornish side of
the Hamoaze. Our earliest printed description
of the facilities dates from 1812 [1];
'South Down situated on the
Cornwall side of the harbour, which is the brewery where all
the beer for the fleet is brewed. Here is an
establishment as part of the Victualling Office, consisting
of the Master Brewer, Mr J Skardon and the Master Cooper, Mr
J West, who have houses for their residence, and offices for
transacting their business.'
A slightly later source, [2] tells us a little
more:
'The southern point of the
peninsula of Inceworth having been selected as a spot
peculiarly adapted for the brewing department of the
Plymouth victualling establishment, a lease of the ground
was obtained from Margaret, Countess of Orford. The
buildings are constructed along the creek, with the
necessary quays, cranes, etc., and comprise an extensive
cooperage, brewhouses and malt-houses. The principal
officers have dwelling houses within the precincts, with
good gardens, in which is the reservoir, filled with water,
brought in pipes for purposes of the establishment.'
The King's Brewery closed down when the new Brewery
in the
Royal William Victualling Yard was opened in 1835.
Sources:
[1] "The Picture of
Plymouth", Messrs Rees and Curtis, Plymouth, 1812.
[2] "The Tourist's Companion
Being a Guide to the Towns of Plymouth, Plymouth-Dock, Stonehouse,
Morice-Town, Stoke, and their Vicinities",
Messrs Longman, Hurst, Beer, Orme & Brown, London, 1823.
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