Visited with Dweeb, Fur:Q and Raddog.
As with many things, this fine structure has been one to keep a good eye on in the last 4 years so after a quick recce a couple of months before, we then returned with the intention of seeing more of this wonderful place.
It's covered in cameras so I couldn't get any good photos of the outside but I've included one off the net just so you get an idea of the size of it.
It's in absolutely amazing condition with malt and hops still scattering the floor on the upper levels. In one of the rooms, there sits two malt barrows. Left behind and never to be used again....apart from malt barrow racing which is fun and dangerous.
The pub next door to the brewery still features the Hardy and Hansons emblem on its sign and A-board.
An awesome site for a picnic
The Kimberley Brewery was established and operated by the brewer Hardys & Hansons, and has a heritage dating from 1832. It was the last independent brewery in Nottinghamshire.
Samuel Robinson opened the first commercial brewery in Kimberley, Nottinghamshire, England in a rented bake-house using water from the Alley Spring in what is now called Hardy Street.
Stephen Hanson meanwhile built Hansons Limited on Brewery Street in 1847, also using water from the Alley Spring.
William & Thomas Hardy were successful beer merchants from Heanor who bought Samuel Robinsons brewery in 1857. The current brewery is largely based on the buildings erected by them in 1861 when they moved out of the old bake-house.
Also in 1861, Stephen Hanson died and the business was carried on by his wife Mary and son Robert Hanson.
There was much friendly rivalry between the two brewing companies who proceeded to buy pubs throughout the area to supply with their own ales.
Both breweries began to run short of water. By agreement the water from the local Holly Well spring was shared between them.[1] Having been attracted by the supply of excellent brewing water from the Holly Well, both breweries thrived independently until 1930, when under increasing pressure from larger brewing companies and lack of male successors to the Hardy's Brewery, the two companies combined.
In 2006, The Hardys & Hansons Kimberley Brewery and all of its public houses were sold in a multi-million pound deal to Greene King brewery, who decided to end the brewing tradition in Kimberley in "a cost effective move" and will sell the Kimberley site, moving its distribution centre to Eastwood. Brewing will switch to the main Greene King site at Bury St Edmunds.
As with many things, this fine structure has been one to keep a good eye on in the last 4 years so after a quick recce a couple of months before, we then returned with the intention of seeing more of this wonderful place.
It's covered in cameras so I couldn't get any good photos of the outside but I've included one off the net just so you get an idea of the size of it.
It's in absolutely amazing condition with malt and hops still scattering the floor on the upper levels. In one of the rooms, there sits two malt barrows. Left behind and never to be used again....apart from malt barrow racing which is fun and dangerous.
The pub next door to the brewery still features the Hardy and Hansons emblem on its sign and A-board.
An awesome site for a picnic
The Kimberley Brewery was established and operated by the brewer Hardys & Hansons, and has a heritage dating from 1832. It was the last independent brewery in Nottinghamshire.
Samuel Robinson opened the first commercial brewery in Kimberley, Nottinghamshire, England in a rented bake-house using water from the Alley Spring in what is now called Hardy Street.
Stephen Hanson meanwhile built Hansons Limited on Brewery Street in 1847, also using water from the Alley Spring.
William & Thomas Hardy were successful beer merchants from Heanor who bought Samuel Robinsons brewery in 1857. The current brewery is largely based on the buildings erected by them in 1861 when they moved out of the old bake-house.
Also in 1861, Stephen Hanson died and the business was carried on by his wife Mary and son Robert Hanson.
There was much friendly rivalry between the two brewing companies who proceeded to buy pubs throughout the area to supply with their own ales.
Both breweries began to run short of water. By agreement the water from the local Holly Well spring was shared between them.[1] Having been attracted by the supply of excellent brewing water from the Holly Well, both breweries thrived independently until 1930, when under increasing pressure from larger brewing companies and lack of male successors to the Hardy's Brewery, the two companies combined.
In 2006, The Hardys & Hansons Kimberley Brewery and all of its public houses were sold in a multi-million pound deal to Greene King brewery, who decided to end the brewing tradition in Kimberley in "a cost effective move" and will sell the Kimberley site, moving its distribution centre to Eastwood. Brewing will switch to the main Greene King site at Bury St Edmunds.
