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Star Brewery
Canterbury
Above map identified by Rory Kehoe. |
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Rigden's Brewery started in Faversham, Kent in about 1750 and became
George Beer & Rigden's in 1921 after taking over George Beer's Brewery in
Canterbury. Taken over by Fremlins in 1949 and subsequently Whitbread.
Brewery closed but some buildings converted into supermarket in 1996.
There is mention in various records of Rigden, Geo. Beer & Rigden. Rigden
Delmar & Co. and in 1829 Messrs Rigden, Delmar and Pierce. They were
obviously very important brewers, owners of land and inns and other property
in Canterbury.
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From the archives of Rigden's records.
Canterbury City
Received the 1st October 1831 of Messrs. Rigden & Co. the sum of one
pound for one year's rent due to the Mayor and Commonalty of the City of
Canterbury at Michaelmas Day last £1.0.0.
Acquittance 8d.
Total £1.0.8.
James Warren Chamberlain
June 10 1829
Gents
I will thank you to send me four butts of Mild Beer on Friday without
fail by doing so you will oblidge
Your Obed. Servt
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Star Brewery advert, date unknown. |
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From the Whitstable Times, 31 December, 1870.
A GIGANTIC MALT-HOUSE.
Mr. George Beer, of “The Star” brewery in this city, has recently caused
to be erected, for the purpose of his trade a new malt-house, and the
immense size of the building, its excellence of style, and the many
modern improvements it possesses for the conversion of barley into malt,
storage, &c., demand a public notice. Indeed, “The Star” brewery
malt-house is par excellence, the handsomest private business building
in the city, and having regard to the purpose for which it has been
erected, is probably unapproached in size and style by any similar
structure in the south Eastern district. The situation of the malt-house
is at the rear of St Augustine’s Missionary College; and although the
spot chosen has certain business advantages over any other, for the
particular class of work for which it is needed, it is almost to be
regretted that this circumstance has caused to be shut out from general
view, what otherwise would have been an ornament in one of our public
thoroughfares. But be this as it may, the leviathan malt-house, standing
where it does, is not the leas a praiseworthy record of the enterprise
of its owner, or less creditable to the builder, Mr. John Knowler, with
Mr. J. G. Hall, as architect. The entire length of the building is
225ft, and its width 55ft, built of brick, and having a span roof,
supported by iron girders almost throughout There is an office inside of
the entrance gates, communicating with the main structure, and in the
interior, at this end of the malt-house, is erected an iron stage,
termed a “barley bin.” It is here that the raw material is deposited,
and after having been screened, is rushed from thence into a cistern
beneath, which is capable of wetting fifty quarters of corn at one time.
When the bulk has attained a certain degree of germination it is
transferred from this immense trough to the “couch,” and subsequently
spread over the floor of the building, which is laid with Portland
cement. After remaining here the necessary time, it is removed to the
farther end of the enclosure, and placed upon a tiled floor, supported
by iron joists, beneath which are the kilns. The roof of the malt-house
up to the kiln, as we have mentioned, is supported by iron girders, it
is boarded in and covered with tarred felt, and slated. Of coarse, where
the drying process is carried on, draught and ventilation are required,
and this is provided with a lofty roof, surmounted by a cupola, covering
the drying floor, the furnace passages, coal stores, and large room for
the storage of malt. Viewed from the entrance gates, this new malt-house
is a really handsome structure, and the end-long termination to the
extensive run of slated roof consisting as it does, of an immense
pagoda-like mass of ornamental red brick and tile work, tends very
considerably to produce this effect. The cupola admits light to the
drying floors, and it is provided in other parts of the building, by
means of numerous screened windows on each side. Both internally and
externally every modem improvement has been brought into requisition,
and many new plans have been put upon their trial, with every chance of
success. It is seldom that commercial enterprise is so extensively and
tastefully developed in Canterbury, as in the case we have noticed, and
when it is it deserves very general appreciation.
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From the Canterbury Journal and Farmers' Gazette, Saturday, 29 January, 1887.
Discovery of human remains.
In the course of excavations for building purposes at Messrs. George
Beer and Co's Star Brewery, Canterbury, the workmen dug up a skull,
fragments of another skull, and several human bones. They were found at
depths of 7 and 12 ft below and old cellar and within 8 and 20 feet of
the old city wall.
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From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 13
January, 1922.
BREWERY AMALGAMATION
We understand that an arrangement has been arrived at between Messrs
George Beer and Co. Ltd, of the Star Brewery, Canterbury, and Messrs.
Rigden and Co., brewers of Faversham, whereby Mr. Charles Rigden and
Captain O'Brien, the proprietors of Messrs. Rigden and Co's brewery,
will join the Board of Messrs George Beer and Co., Ltd., the latter firm
acquiring the brewery premises and licensed houses of Messrs. Rigden and
Co.
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From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 29 July, 1932. Price 1½d.
KENTISH BREWER'S SUDDEN DEATH
Mr. Charles Rigden, a Director of Messrs. George Beer and Rigden, Ltd.,
Brewers, of Faversham, died suddenly on Wednesday afternoon while
waiting for his train at Faversham railway station. He had been to a
meeting of the Directors, and was about to return to London en route for
his home neat Oxford. A son of the late Mr. John Rigden, he succeeded
his father as head of the firm of Messrs. W. E. and J. Rigden, and a few
years ago sold the business to Messrs. George Beer and Co., of
Canterbury, but remained on the Board as a Director.
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Above advert circa 1935.
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From the Dover Express and East Kent News, 12 December, 1936.
Above advert from the Dover Express 1936.
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From the Dover Express and East Kent News, 14 January, 1938.
Above advert from the Dover Express 1938.
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From an email received 16 July 2015.
George Beer's Star Brewery stood in Broad Street, Canterbury. With
such a name, one would have expected the brewery to have had litle
competition, yet it is surprising to note that there existed, in the
same street, another brewery, operated by William and Alfred James Beer.
That brewery ceased in around 1895, when the Westerham Brewery took over
the premises, but George Beer continued to flourish and in 1922
amalgamated with Rigden & Company of Faversham, to form George Beer &
Rigden Ltd.
 
The inscription on George Beer's headstone I believe that with other
family members he is buried
at St Martins Church, Canterbury.
GEORGE BEER THE BREWER
LIES BURIED HERE
ON EARTH HE WAS BOTH ALE AND STOUT
DEATH BOUGHT HIM TO HIS BITTER BEER
AND NOW IN HEAVEN HE HOPS ABOUT
From Peter Beer.
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