Because of the Covid19 virus lockdown situation, London Shoes has obviously had to temporarily suspend the weekly jaunts out to the big ‘Smoke’.
Fortunately, during this current ‘lockdown’ period, ‘Shoes’ has still been able to post regular articles to its Website-Facebook & Twitter portals, by utilising material that had been collated but had not yet published.
However, this week’s publication ‘is’ actually a topic that London Shoes was able to get out there on-the-road and physically do, by incorporating the task into my ‘daily exercise’ activity – all because the subject matter in question was right on my ‘home turf’, in Romford within the London Borough of Havering.
So – this week’s London Shoes blog is all about the history of what was, for over 200 hundred years, Romford’s main industry and biggest employer…..the “Romford Brewery” !!!
The once iconic Romford Brewery was founded in 1708 by one Benjamin Wilson.
It originated as an extension to the already long standing ‘Star Inn’ that was situated in the old ‘High Street’ on the main road out of the City of London, that lead onwards towards Chelmsford, Colchester and eventually on to Norwich in the east.
The Star Inn was the ideal location to set-up a brewery, as it was located alongside the ‘River Rom’, allowing the brewery to take advantage of the river’s free flowing water, a necessity in the brewing process.
In 1799 the brewery was bought up by a reputable brewer by the name of ‘Edward Ind’.
With the opening of a mainline railway network at Romford in 1839 – travel and transportation of freight and people to and from the brewery, became much easier to manage, and allowed the business to expand rapidly. In fact, the brewery was so big that it even had its very own bespoke railway sidings connected to the main-line Romford Station.
In 1845 renowned London brewers Octavius & George Coope bought in to the business – and as a result, the brand name of ‘Ind Coope’ was born. By the early 1900’s the Romford Brewery employed over 450 people.
Fast forward several decades to the late 1960’s-early 1970’s the brewery employed over 1,000 workers and the site covered 20 acres.
One of the Romford Brewery’s most popular beers was ‘John Bull-Bitter’, named after the historic English farmer character – and his distinctive caricature logo displayed on the product.
However, in the late 60’s early 70’s real-ale started to become increasingly popular, and by the end of the 70’s there was a certain enthusiasm and kudos around the quality of real-ales in the market, particularly with the formation of CAMRA (Campaign for Real-Ale) organisation in the early 1970’s.
It’s probably fair to say that the Romford Brewery’s ‘John Bull Bitter’ didn’t always go down too well with the majority of the CAMRA enthusiasts – as it was often described as being too watery, and full of suds – and as a result, the popularity of the product started to fade, which in turn had an adverse impact on the Romford Brewery’s business.
Sadly, in 1993 the long standing Romford Brewery closed and was subsequently shut- down for good – causing an adverse economic and employment impact to the area.
So – my London Shoes quest this week was to try and track down any of the Brewery’s historic landmarks or fixtures or references that might still be in situ – and this is what I found.
Following the Brewery’s closure, the old Brewery site was completely re-developed and then re-opened in 2001 as a massive retail shopping complex called ironically “The Brewery”. However, down one side of the old Romford ‘High Street’ where the Brewery once stood, there remains a row of some the original factory buildings, which retain many of their original design features and fixtures & fittings. One of the old brewery buildings is now, quite fittingly, the home of the ‘Havering Museum’ (Havering being the London Borough in which Romford is situated).
In front of these buildings, there is a distinctive ‘hump’ in the road where the bridge across the River Rom was once situated – the river where the Brewery acquired its water supply from.
The Brewery’s ornate iron gates at one of the original entrances to the Brewery site are embellished with magnificent ‘hop & vine’ emblems.
Situated at what was once another entrance to the brewery (now the entrance to the shopping complex car-park), is a huge copper ‘brewing tun’ (a sort of large vat) once an integral part of the brewing manufacturing process – and now situated there as a historic landmark to commemorate just how important the Brewery once was, and the factory’s influence on the town of Romford during its 200 year tenure.
In the car-park of the now shopping complex, there stands a huge obelisk that reaches to the sky like a giant chimney that pays homage to the many large brewing chimneys that once stood on the original Brewery site.
Now – having completed a blog, I would normally trot off to a nearby pub for a couple of ‘cheeky’ beers – but obviously under the present global pandemic lockdown circumstances, that particular avenue of pleasure has been taken away from me, as all the pubs are closed.
However, what I did do was wander on up the road a little bit from the old Brewery site, to have a gander at the local landmark that is the famous and iconic ‘Golden Lion’ pub situated at the head of the Romford Market Square.
The ‘Golden Lion’ holds the amazing accolade of being one of the oldest pubs in continual use, in England.
Historic archives show that there has been an inn/tavern at its present site since 1440.
Throughout the 16th Century and beyond, the Golden Lion was a famous and popular coaching ‘halt’ (e.g. stopping-off point) on the main route between the City of London and Colchester in the east.
Most of the buildings structure today dates back to the 17th Century, although its frontage was re-built in the early Victorian era.
Inside the pub itself, a couple of the original wooden beams from the 17th Century are still in situ – and it is claimed that the building is haunted by 7 spirits – but I guess the only spirits you are likely to see in there are alcoholic ones (if the bloody place was open of course)
So – that concludes my little story about the old Romford Brewery, a topic right on my doorstep, literally a 15min walk from my home. Shame I couldn’t finish it off with the customary ‘cheeky’ one, but it is what it is, and it was good to get back out on-the-road and do something constructive – so I may publish a few more ‘local’ blogs whilst living in these strange times.
Stay safe everyone
_______________________________________
Summarised below are the full range of photographs accompanying the ‘Romford Brewery’ blog

One of the original entrances to the old Romford Brewery

A photo of the old Romford Brewery site in the 1940’s

Some of the old Romford Brewery buildings still in situ along the old ‘High Road’ – the hump in the road where the bridge over the River Rom was once located – is quite noticeable

The Romford Brewery buildings as they were back in the factory’s heydays

The very same buildings as they are today

Another view of the old Brewery buildings still in situ – again, the ‘hump’ in the road where the River Rom flowed into the brewery site, is clearly visible

Me outside one of the original entrances to the old Romford Brewery

An old b&w photo from the 1920’s – showing just how prominent the Romford Brewery was on the local landscape

An old ceramic tile advert promoting the Brewery’s “Ind Coope’ brand, that originated in 1845

An old advert promoting Romford Brewery’s ‘John Bull-Bitter’

One of the original entrances to the Romford Brewery

One of the old Brewery buildings is now the home to the ‘Havering Museum’

An flagstone embedded into the Brewery buildings wall – commemorating the demolition of the bridge that once crossed the River Rom and led into the brewery.

Another commemorative plaque displayed upon a wall of the old Romford Brewery building – this recognises an act of bravery by a local Romford PC

One of the original entrances into the Romford Brewery site

The ornate ‘hop & vine’ emblems ton the gates leading into what was once the main entrance into the Romford Brewery

Me – in front of one of the Brewery’s old ‘hop & vine’ entrance gates

An old ‘bar-towel’ advertising Romford Brewery’s ‘John Bull-Bitter’

An old ‘brewing tun’ from the Romford Brewery factory, now stands outside the main entrance to the now ‘Brewery’ shopping centre!

A ‘past & present’ view – showing the old ‘brewing tun’ vat with The Brewery Shopping Centre obelisk in the distance

Me – with the old ‘brewing-tun’ vat and the current ‘Brewery’ shopping centre obelisk in the background

An old can of the Romford Brewery’s ‘John Bull-Bitter’

The entrance to what is now the ‘Brewery’ shopping centre

The ‘Brewery’ shopping complex, built on the site of the old Romford Brewery – that was formally opened in 2001:-)

Inside the ‘Brewery’ shopping complex, built on the site of the old Romford Brewery – that was formally opened in 2001:-)

Another view of the ‘Brewery’ shopping complex, built on the site of the old Romford Brewery – that was formally opened in 2001:-

A close-up of the top of the obelisk located in the ‘Brewery’ shopping centre car-par – depicting the old brewery chimneys that used to operate on the site.

Me – in the ‘Brewery’ shopping centre – that used to be the site of the famous Romford Brewery

The ‘Golden Lion’ pub, situated at the entrance to Romford Market – holds the amazing accolade of being one of the oldest pubs in continual use, in England. Historic archives show that there has been an inn/tavern on this site since 1440.

Romford’s historic ‘Golden lion’ pub – just a couple of hundred yards down the road from the site of the old Romford Brewery

Another view of the ‘Golden Lion’ pub

Another view of the ‘Golden Lion’ pub

A quite recent photo from Inside the ‘Golden Lion’ pub, where a couple of the wooden beams in its structure, date back to the 1700’s

Me – all socially distanced & masked up – outside the ‘Golden Lion’ pub – Romford

A retro beer mug – with the Romford Brewery’s ‘John Bull-Bitter’ logo on it

A socially distanced& masked-up me – outside the Golden Lion pub, and with the old Romford Brewery buildings in the background – Stay Safe everyone x
Excellent post Geoff there’s a book or two in you somewhere
Thank you Geoff. Tough times when you can’t even pursue your hobbies. Maybe it is time to start writing a book
Great insight into our historic and also recent past. Had a friend of my mother’s whose husband had worked at the brewery and recalled the brewery dray horses delivering the beer and staff being able to get a free pint quota each week!
Lovely write up thank you. My dear dad worked at the brewery for years until he retired.
He has a tie badge which I now have with an A & C on front, or it could be the other way round or C & A.
Have you any idea what it stands for?
He got it while working there.
Thank you
Julie Rainbird
Hi Julie – thank you for sharing your comments regarding the Romford Brewery blog – I’m glad that you enjoyed it.
Although I’ve lived in Romford for over 30yrs now, I’m afraid don’t have that greater detail in knowledge about the old Brewery – only what I researched for this piece.
However, I do know that an elderly neighbour a couple of doors down from where I live, worked at at the Romford Brewery for many years, and so I will ask him whether he knows what the A&C (or C&A) inscription on the tie badge could mean – if anyone would know, he will.
I will get back to you with the outcome of my enquiries
Cheers……Geoff (London Shoes)
I think I may have worked with your father was he Dickie Rainbird I worked the in the 1960s 1970s But I cant help you with the tie badge
What a fascinating article about the Romford Brewery! I live in Bristol but know Romford well as my sis and partner have lived there nearly 30 years. Today, whilst having the garden cleared in Bristol, I came across an old bottle with Ind Coope, Romford on it. Perfect condition too. A lovely link to the past. I only find your site thru researching the Brewery itself. I’m not sure when my next visit will be to Romford, but will certainly look out for the iron gates.
Hello Angie,
Firstly, thank you for taking the time & trouble to contact my London Shoes website – and I’m so pleased to hear that you enjoyed my little Romford Brewery blog.
Secondly, thank you also for sharing your own personal connections/memories to the Brewery – no matter how tenuous those links may be, they are aways gratefully received by me, as I find they really help enhance my blogs.
With that in mind, can I ask a big favour of you, if it’s not too much trouble. If you still have that bottle you found in your garden, and haven’t thrown it away yet – would you mind very much doing a few photographs of it and then e-mailing them over to me??? I will then ‘add’ the photos to my Romford Brewery blog, as they will really enhance the article.
My e-mail address is:- geoffclements@btinternet.com
Cheers……GEOFF (London Shoes)
My father worked there in the late fifties as a driver.
Thanks for sharing that piece of info Barry – if you provide your father’s name then there may well be people reading this that will remember your Dad, and want to comment further – just a thought.
Regards…..Geoff (London Shoes)
anyone still around who worked on The drays in 1960 to 70
The “chimney like obelisk” you mention, is one of the actual chimneys. I can’t recall if the chimney is actually listed, or it was too costly to pull down (or some other reason), but instead they surrounded it in metal sheeting for protection and left it there.
I have fond memories of the brewery as we lived quite close, and my bedroom over looked it. You could always smell the hops on brewing day. As a child when the brewery closed, I was worried I would lose my view of the chimney, but found out it was to stay, which made me happy. Now as I drive into town, or travel by train, the sight of the chimney tells me “I’m home”.
I’ve since found out (from the Romford History Facebook group), that the chimney has asbestos in it. It was therefore to expensive, and because if the size and height, too dangerous to remove it. It also explains the cladding for protection.
Hi Ruth,
Thanks for providing London Shoes that additional interesting point of clarification regarding the chimney landmark at the current Brewery retail site – it all makes sense now👍
Cheers…….GEOFF (London Shoes)
Hello Ruth,
Thank you so much for contacting my London Shoes website – really appreciate it, and am so glad that you enjoyed the Romford Brewery blog – being a Romford resident myself, I certainly enjoyed doing it, as it was an ideal topic for me to cover-off during the 1st Covid19 ‘lockdown’.
Also – thank you for sharing your own personal experiences and memories of the old Brewery – there will be plenty of others that will view/read this in the future, who will enjoy your comments and find them interesting.
Once again – many thanks, and I hope you continue to follow my little Londin Shoes hobby.
Cheers…….GEOFF (London Shoes)
My Uncle Jim was the engineering manager there and he worked on erecting the infrastructure for any new beer creations in the Ind Coope family …including, especially, Double Diamond – one of the first Keg Beers to be gassified to compete against the ascendant charge of lager. Apparently, according to the adverts, “…Double Diamond works wonders”.
His last job was the de-construction of all of the site (except the chimney) and it was carted off lock, stock, and barrel, to China. So, it lives on.
Hello Janet,
I just wanted to thank you for taking the time and trouble to contact me via my London Shoes website – and I’m so glad that you enjoyed my ‘Romford Brewery’ blog👍
Also – thank you so mch for sharing your personal family connections and memories of the old Brewery – I very much appreciate that.
I am absolutely sure that there will be future readers/viewers of this particular blog, who will find great interest and enjoyment in your comments – so once again, many thanks👍
Kind regards……GEOFF (LONDON SHOES)