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poTTed on The sTreeT A closer look at some surviving brewery buildings
St George’s Brewery, Commercial Road
Commercial Brewery, Stepney
“Built as St George’s Brewery in 1847 by Charles Humphreys. Set at an angle to the road, reflecting the pre-1870 street pattern. Interior with cast iron supports and jack arches. Originally roofed by a large water tank; the present roofline must date from c. 1900 when the building was converted for [Johnnie Walker’s whisky] bonded stores.” (Pevsner)
The Troxy – built as a cinema in 1931-3 – occupies the former Commercial Brewery site. The old Brewery Tap still stands on the corner, now flats. “It is probable that 7-19 Caroline Street”, which also survives “was the brewery transport depot, with drays on the ground floor and stables on the upper floors.” (London Brewed)
Brewery and Brewer’s House, Heneage Street
Chandler’s Wiltshire Brewery, Hackney Road
“The Pride of Spitalfields has a 20th century front concealing an older building which belonged to the White Lion Brewery… [and a few doors along] No 5, Brewer’s House.” (Pevsner). The Turner family ran the brewery from the 1830s, until it was taken over by Best & Co in 1892. The brewer’s house was restored by Jocasta Innes, a writer who lived there from 1979-2013.
“In 1893 Arthur Kinder & Son built a new 120 quarter brewery to double the capacity at Chandler’s; only a few ball finials on the brewhouse gables enlivened a sturdy industrial structure, lacking even any blank arcading.” (British Breweries, Lynn Pearson)
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