Beer was brewed in the Strath before whisky was distilled !




It is not generally known that the  brewing of ale or  beer  was carried  out in the Strath long  before they started  to produce the uisge beatha or whisky . According to Porteous , it was in 1275 that  Luke , son of Theobold of Petlandy near Fowlis Wester , gave to the Abbot and Convent of Inchaffray “ the brew house of the whole land of Petlandy with the rights of the brew house “

Oats were the principal grain grown in the Strath in the 13th Century and it was written about Scotland as a whole that “ From  the multitude of brewhouses with which every division of the Kingdom appears to have been studded , from the Royal manufactories  of ale down to those in the towns, burghs , baronies and villages , it is evident that this beverage must have been consumed in  great quantities “

We cannot be specific  as to when brewing first commenced in Crieff . Reference  to documentation  concerned  with the aftermath of the 1745  Uprising in Strathearn is informative . Produced  in 1748 , “The Rental of the Forfeited Estates of Perth “ drawn up  by one David Bruce , a  surveyor of the Forfeited Estates , states that there were at least five breweries  in the  town and  adjoining neighbourhood . 

The brewers of 1748 were William and Andrew  Miller in Gavelbeg , Andrew Bayne , John Clement and David Porteous . Where the location of the last three was remains uncertain . About 1800 there was  a brewery  located at the west  end of Milnab Street and Comrie Road  which was managed by  a David Porteous  who was the son of the one mentioned  previously .This  brewery had  existed for a considerable  number of years before this  date . It was this David Porteous  who built Hawkshaw on the Comrie  Road . The house is clearly shown on Wood’s Map of Crieff dated 1822.

When Porteous died , the brewery  was rented to a John Campbell who carried  on business for  many years  before passing it on to a John Bullions . The brewery  however  became somewhat  “ disreputable “ and was referred to locally as the “ splash mill “ – why I am not clear – but legend reminds us that the local  hand loom weavers ( the majority of the working populous  in those far off days ) would  go on a spree and  boast that they could get drunk there in ten minutes  for three pence each ( 1.25 modern pence !  ) . The brewery  closed in 1876 .



The best known Crieff brewery was  located in the Water Wynd – that part of Mitchell Street as it is now known running  from the Miller Street junction down towards East High Street .This was aptly named the Crieff Brewery and was erected in 1791 . Just one year into business it was producing 9600 gallons of beer at 14 pence ( old ) and 22 pence ( old ) a gallon from 400 bolls of bear (barley ) costing 15/- a boll . Managed  by one , Hugh McDougall he sold  a bottle of “ small /sma’ “ for a half penny ! It closed about 1860 .

Nowadays you get  your  beer from the Coop or Ellie’s Cellar . It maybe Scottish  - more likely German – but certainly not brewed in Crieff !





Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Rise and Fall of Inchbrakie – The Story of the Graemes and Why A Great House Was Demolished and A Family Heritage Threatened

Image
Inchbrakie House The Inchbrakie story is one of the sad tales of the Strath. This ancient family once were one of the dominant influences in Strathearn and their names appeared with frequent regularity as the centuries unfold. The Graeme family of Inchbrakie are however still around. There is a most excellent web site http://www.inchbrakie.com/ which provides a superb source of research and information into not only the family but also their domicile up until the late 19th century at Inchbrakie . Anthony Graeme , a present day descendant and a most charming person , lives in far off Devon but is a frequent visitor here in Strathearn .Interestingly , there are here in Crieff,  a couple of roads bearing that illustrious name .One wonders just how many of the inhabitants of houses in those specific airts know much about the original name ! We are, however ,  most fortunate that the family history of the Graemes was painstakingly recorded in a book Orr and Sab...
Read more

Glen Artney and Auchnashelloch : A Royal Forest and Comrie’s Highland Heritage .

Image
A number of years ago I purchased a  small booklet on Glen Artney in the book shop  that existed for  some years in Drummond Street Comrie. The author was the late Gordon Booth FSA , a superb researcher and accomplished author . He was not a local man since moving to the village  from I believe the Island of Islay in the Inner Hebrides. Since arriving in the area, he  had  read and assimilated much of the history and folk lore of this part of the Strath  .I recall the late Tom Weir ( of the woolly hat ) doing a programme in his Weir’s Way series on Glen Artney an d featuring Gordon Booth . Regrettably  all seven of his little books are out of print although they may be available to borrow through Perth and Kinross Library Service. I have incorporated partial excerpts from his  writings in this blog on the Glen which I duly acknowledge as a fitting tribute to his diligence . Glen Artney is some eight or  so miles in length...
Read more

The Story of Ferntower House

Image
There has been considerable   discussion   recently regarding the    state of decrepitude of   many of the older   and better   known   buildings   in Crieff . The Drummond Arms , the old Parish Church in Church Street ( aka the Community Hall ) , the George or Strathearn Hotel and the old Crown Hotel in East High Street . One   does   not   to travel too far back in time   to recall   the   fate of   many other fine buildings in Crieff and indeed in Strathearn on a wider basis . Although I devoted   a small space   some   months   back to Ferntower House   I find   it   so fascinating that I have   decided   I am going to elaborate further   and   include   more information   about it and   its most   celebrated occupant General Sir   David Baird   whose monument dominates so much of the Strath . It was a building ...
Read more