Whilst doing the research for the Gloucestershire Pubs project and carefully documenting the inns and taverns throughout the county there were a few really interesting finds. I was delighted to come across a reference to a brewery and beerhouse in the grounds of Harrington House, one of the most imposing houses in the village.
The grandiose two storey house was built c.1740 and is of regional Palladian style, of yellowish ashlar. It has a Cotswold stone roof surmounted by a domed gazebo and surrounded by a balustraded parapet with vase finials. The windows have moulded architraves and keystones and the impressive doorway has rusticated Ionic pilasters supporting a cornice and pediment. The gate-posts in front of the house have large ball finials.
The first reference to a brewery at Harrington House was c.1860 when a Mr Mills was the owner and brewing in ‘ part of the house’. Alfred Hadley had bought the property c.1870.
An advertisement in Bennetts Business Directory of 1908 states:
“Alfred Hadley & Sons. Brewers and Maltsers, The Brewery, Sherborne Street and Harrington House. Families supplied with four and a half, six, nine, eighteen and thirty six gallon casks.”
Hadley’s Bourton Ales were probably mostly brewed for the take-home trade but one pub was supplied, the Jubilee. The pub was in Sherborne Street in front of Harrington House. It is only referred to as the Jubilee in the 1903 petty sessional divisional records. The 1891 book simply refers to the Brewery, Sherborne Street. The annual rateable value is given as £32.0s.0d in 1891 decreasing to £12.0s.0d in 1903.
There seems to be no record of either the brewery in Harrington House or the Jubilee beerhouse after 1908. In 1922 Harrington House was in the ownership of a Mr J.A. Fort.
There is a private house called the Old Malt Barn in Sherborne Street.
Map Reference: SP 167207
Licensing Details:
Owner in 1891: Tied to Alfred Hadley
Rateable value in 1891: £32.0s.0d
Type of licence in 1891: Beerhouse/Brewery.
Owner in 1903: Tied to Alfred Hadley
Rateable value in 1903: £12.0s.0d.
Type of licence in 1903: Beerhouse/Brewery.
Closing time in 1903: 10pm
Landlord / Owner:
1891,1903 Alfred Hadley
1908 Alfred Hadley & Sons
