BUILDINGS AND PLANT

With the help of Mr Archibald Graham Neale, the Author has reconstructed a plan of the Reigate Brewery as it was at the time of its closure in June 1938.





Building 1, the mineral water factory, was built in 1936 with a steel frame, brick walls, cement rendered, having a flat lead roof, metal framed windows, concrete floor, and central heating. On the ground floor, stood the factory (2478 sq. ft.); store (620 sq. ft.); loading bank (325 sq. ft.); girls’ mess room (336 sq. ft.); kitchen (90 sq, ft.); and cloakroom (170 sq. ft.). The first floor consisted of the Syrup room (455 sq. ft.); label stores and workshop (168 sq. ft.); and essence room (308 sq. ft.).




Building 2 consisted of a part-covered loading bank (420 sq. ft) with a concrete platform, covered with a corrugated iron curved roof on steel uprights. Abutting to this was also an uncovered loading bank ( 185 sq. ft.) with brick side and rear walls.

Building 3 consisted of a crate store (1028 sq. ft.) of lean-to construction, with a corrugated iron cover, part closed-in, with the remainder, open fronted.

Building 4 was the boiler house (232 sq. ft.), constructed of brick and concrete with housing for a 500 gallon oil tank, oil-fired central heating and process boiler. Adjoining this is a brick and corrugated iron lean-to containing the lavatory (3 w.c's and urinal). The vertical boiler was built by Herbert Morris and had a diameter of 4ft, by 7ft 6ins height.Its function was to supply water to washing machines in building 1.

Building 5 was an oil store ( 95 sq. ft.), built of lean-to timber and felt roof.

Building 6 was a bottle store (461 sq. ft.) consisting of a lean-to with concrete block walls and a corrugated asbestos roof.

Building 7 was the despatch room (168 sq. ft.) built of brick and stucco. It had a flat roof and a wooden floor.




Building 8 was the store (180 sq. ft.) having a timber and felt flat roof and concrete floor.

Building 9 was the second largest building having good brick walls, steel framed, with a part steel truss roof covered with corrugated asbestos. This was an adjunct to the mineral water factory, comprising factory 2 (1134 sq. ft.), a loading bank (567 sq. ft.) part flat with a lantern light over. The bank platform was of wood with a wharf and brick walls, having a roller shutter front. Above this, on the second floor, was the syrup room (303 sq. ft.); the general office (168 sq. ft.) and three other offices (163, 207, and 172 sq. ft. respectively).

Building 10 was the wellhouse and workshop with plant (500 sq. ft.). It had a brick wall with tiled roof, lined with wood, top light and metal windows, and a concrete floor. It contained a 242 ft artesian well; 11 and a half by 10 inch tube electric driven pump with an old Tangye gas engine 8hp as a stand-by. The well had a circular heading of 5 ft 6 ins diameter, and was used to supply the whole brewery. There was also a stand-by generator of 26 KVA alternator by Crompton Parkinson with a DC excitor motor of 400/230 volts. A small switchboard and three ammeters, a voltimeter, a phasemeter with field controls, and a polyphase WH meter also stood in this building.

Building 11 was the men's mess room (221 sq. ft.) consisting of brick walling and having a lean-to roof of covered felt on wood, and a concrete floor.

Building 12 consisted of two garages (1473 and 378 sq. ft. respectively) with maintenance workshop adjoining (448 sq. ft.)

Building 13 & 13a consisted of steel towers supporting some 35 feet in the air, each an eight foot square water tank. These were put in specifically for the mineral factory when the brewery ceased to function.

Building 14 consisted of a crate and bottle store (978 sq. ft.) built of a steel frame and corrugated asbestos. It had a hard earth floor and was open-fronted.

Building 15 consisted of brick walled coal bunkers (210 sq. ft.)

Building 16 comprised the rough store (223 sq. ft.) constructed of timber and corrugated iron, with a concrete floor.

Building 17 housed a 1000 gallon underground petrol tank.

Building 18 was another rough store (152 sq. ft.) of similar construction to building.

Building 19 was a bottle and crate store (1838 sq. ft.) having brick and stone walls, a steel truss roof covered with corrugated asbestos, and a loading platform adjoining (144 sq. ft.) of part flat wood and felt roof and top light, and with concrete floor. The entrance way to this bay had an open frontage.




Within 6 months of the brewery's closure in 1938, Messrs Meux commissioned George Cohen Sons & Co. Ltd., of Wood Lane, London, to dismantle the plant in the brewery tower, and dispose of it. A catalogue of the resultant auction provides an excellent insight as to the exact size of the concern at the time of its closure, the contents of each room throughout the premises were meticulously catalogued and described. The details of this catalogue the author includes here for the benefit of those having a technical mind.


BREWERY AND MALTHOUSE.

R.B.45. Belt-Driven MALT MILL PLANT by G.J.Worssam, comprising two 2-roller Malt Mills 18” and 12” long respectively with heavy spring tension, spur gearing; magnetic separator to each mill, and automatic feed; Dressing screen about 9’ long x 2’ 6” diameter, in steel casing, chaff discharge hopper and two feed hoppers, 36” and 42” square respectively.

R.B.80. GRIST ELEVATOR, 4” wide belt approximately 42’ centres, with buckets 4” x 4” x 3” deep spaced 7” apart; top drive with pulley 21” diameter for 4” belt and bottom boot; tension adjustment top and bottom; encased in two timber runways seven and a half inches square.

R.B.82. 5-cwt belt-driven FRICTION SACK HOIST; barrel 20” diameter x 18” wide; friction drum 48” diameter x 6” wide; fast and loose pulleys 24” diameter for 5” belt; Cast Iron Frame.

R.B.81. 3 H.P. BROOK MOTOR 400 volts, 3-phase, 50 cycles, 1,000 r.p.m.; slipring (No.15915); ball bearings; enclosed ventilated; pulley 4” diameter x 7” face; slide rails, Air break Combined Rotor and Stator with N.V. and 2 O.L. releases, also 3 pole switch.

R.B.21. Rivited Steel GRIST CASE, 7’ 2” square with hopper bottom, total depth 8’ 6”; bolted cover; inlet shoot and bottom discharge.

R.B.22. Timber GRIST CASE, zinc lined 7’ 2” square, with hopper bottom; total depth 8’ 6”; timber cover; inlet shoot and bottom discharge.

R.B.23. Slate tank 5’ 6” x 2’ 6” x 10” deep. 1 ¼” thick.

R.B.24. Slate Tank 2’ 3” x 2’ 3” x 1’ 10” Deep. 1” thick.

R.B.79. COPPER WORT BOILING PAN, 9’ diameter x 8’ deep, with central steam heater unit and copper coil. Capacity 64 barrels.

R.B.19. Cast Iron sectional HOT LIQUOR TANK 10’ x 7’ x 5’ deep; 60 barrels capacity.

R.P.20. Cast Iron sectional HOT LIQUOR TANK 14’ 6” x 8’ 6” x 4’ 4” Deep; 80 barrels capacity.

R.B.25. Cast Iron sectional TANK 15’ x 15’ x 3’ deep; capacity 4,200 gallons.

R.B.85. Single geared wall mounted HAND HOIST; barrel 8” x 3 ½” diameter.

R.B.17. Cast Iron Sectional Enclosed TANK 8’ 9” x 5’ 10” x 3’ 6” deep, with bolted steel cover. Capacity 1,100 gallons.

R.B.18. Open Top Galvanised TANK 3’ x 2’ 6” x 2’ 2” deep; with angle iron top and fitted with ball valve.

R.B.11. Cast Iron MASH TUN 11’ diameter x 4’ deep, with galvanised sheet steel cover; 32 loose gunmetal bottom strainer plates. Morton’s 2 arm sparge 2” diameter with grain hole in bottom. Steel’s Mashing Machine, with 3” inlet.

R.B.12. Cast Iron MASH TUN 8’ 3” diameter, 4’ 9” deep with galvanised sheet steel cover; 25 gunmetal loose bottom strainer plates; Morton'’ 2 arm sparge 2” diameter, with grain hole in bottom. Steel’s Mashing Machine with 2 ½” inlet.

R.B.77. 5 H.P. BROOK SLIPRING MOTOR 400 volts, 3 phase, 50 cycles, 1,500 r.p.m.; ball bearings; enclosed ventilated type, with pulley 4” diameter x 7” face; slide rails; Air break Combined Sator and Rotor Starter with N.V. and 20.L releases, and 3 pole switch.

R.B.78. HORIZONTAL STEAM ENGINE, cylinder about 9” diameter x 16” stroke; flywheel 6’ diameter with Governor.

R.B.15. Steam Jacketed COPPER BOILING PAN 3’ diameter at top, x 2’ 10” deep; copper jacket about 18” up the pan; 1 ½” diameter bottom discharge; loose timber cover.

R.B.83. Enclose Oak VAT 7’ 6” diameter x 9’ deep built of 1 ¾” thick oak.

R.B.8. COPPER UNDER BACK 5’ diameter x 3’ 9” deep, with copper coil, and two 2” diameter bottom discharges.

R.B.9. Cast Iron HOP BACK by G. J. Worssam, 9’ 9” diameter x 5’ 6” deep, with copper cover raised and lowered by hoist; 18 gunmetal loose bottom straining blates; fitted with 3 arm sparge.

R.B.44. Copper Primary REFRIGERATOR OR COOLER by W. W. Andrews, 18 ½” x 15” in copper tray 30” long x 9” wide.

R.B.70. “SADIA” 33 gallon AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC WATER HEATER, 210 volts, 9.5 amps. 2 K.W. No. 690507.

R.B.71/2. Motor-driven 2” Gunmetal BEER PUMP by G. J. Worssam, direct coupled on one bedplate to 3 H.P. Brook Squirrel cage Motor 230 volts, single phase, 50 cycles, 1,460 r.p.m., ball bearing, enclosed ventilated type. O.I. Wall mounted starter.

R.B.73/4. Similar BEER PUMPING SET.

R.B.75/6. TWO Tangye Horizontal DUPLEX STEAM PUMPS, 5 ¼” x 3 ½” x 5” stroke; capacity about 1,000 gallons per hour each.

R.B.10. Cast Iron Glass lined PAN, open top 2’ 9” diameter at top x 2’ 3” deep; outlt at bottom; on stand.




BOILER HOUSE PLANT.

R.B.63. Davey Paxman “ECONOMIC” BOILER 14’ long x 7’ 6” diameter, having sixty-six 3” diameter tubes; usual furnace work, mountings and fittings, 80 lbs. Working pressure, MAKERS No. 24582, built 1935.

R.B,68. Vertical Direct Acting BOILER FEED PUMP by J.P. Hall; No. 5625, steam cylinder 5 ¼” diameter, 3 ¾” diameter, pump barrel x 10” stroke, Makers state capacity 900 gallons per hour at 20 double strokes per minute, suitable for working pressure up to 160 lbs. Per sq. in.; steam inlet and exhaust ¾” diameter; water suction 2 ¼” diameter, delivery 1 ¾” diameter.

R.B.64/5. Induced Draught FAN; impellor about 24” diameter, 16” diameter side inlet; horizontal discharge about 12” square; driven by 2 ½” H.P. squirrel cage Motor, 400 volts, 3 phase, 50 cycles, 960 r.p.m.; by Hopkinson; ball bearing; Starter and Switch.


R.B.66. Davey Paxman “ECONOMIC” BOILER, 14’ long x 7’ 6” diameter, having sixty six 3” diameter tubes; usual furnace work, mountings and fittings; 80 lbs. Working pressure; MAKERS NO. 21126; Built 1923.

R.B.67. Vertical Direct Acting BOILER FEED PUMP by J.P.Hall; No. 3219; steam cylinder 5 ¼” diameter, 3 ¾” diameter pump barrel x 10” stroke; Makers state capacity 900 gallons per hour at 20 double strokes per minute, suitable for working pressures up to 160 lbs. Per sq. in., steam inlet and exhaust ¾” diameter, water suction 2 ¼” diameter, delivery 1 ¾” diameter.

R.B.69. Worthington Horizontal Duplex BOILER FEED PUMP 6” x 4” x 6”; No. 156983; capacity 1,500 gallons per hour.

FERMENTING AND YEAST HOUSE.

R.B.43. Cast Iron sectional open top TANK 16’ x 12’ x 6’ deep; ¾” thick plate; capacity about 7,2000 gallons.

R.B.2. Cast Iron sectional closed top TANK 7’ x 4’ x 3’ 6” deep; steel cover; capacity about 600 gallons.

R.B.1/1a. TWO Open top Glass Lined Welded Steel TANKS 5’ 10” diameter x 3’ deep; flanged top; 2” outlet at centre of bottom; mounted on steel tubular frame; capacity 15 barrels.

R.B.56. Copper REFRIGERATOR or COOLER by Morton, 6’ 6” long x 5’ deep; in copper tray 8’ 6” x 3’ x 9” deep; 30 barrels capacity.

R.B.55. Carbon Dioxide EXHAUSTER by G.J.Worssam; (job No. 18795) Machine No. 27462; cylinders 3” and 1 ¼” diameter x 2 ¾” stroke; capacity 2 ½ cu. Ft. per min. 200 lbs. Pressure driven through Renold Roller chain by 3 H.P. squirrel cage Motor 230/460 volts, single phase, 50 cycles; 440 r.p.m. with ring oil bearings; Automatic Starter and Control. With Welded Steel Tank 36” high x 18” diameter for 200 lbs. Per sq. in. pressure.

R.B.94. Totally enclosed Copper lined FERMENTING VAT for Carbon Dioxide, 14’ x 8’ x 8’ deep with about 100 ft. of copper attemperator coil.

R.B.89. Pine FERMENTING VAT by Carty, 8’ 6” diameter x 8’ 9” deep, with approx. 66 ft. of attemporator coil; adjustable parachute. Capacity 62 barrels.

R.B.90. Pine FERMENTING VAT by Carty 7’ 6” diameter x 7’ deep, with approx. 60 ft. of attemporator coil; adjustable parachute. Capacity 43 barrels.

R.B.91. Nearly New Pine FERMENTING VAT by Carty, 8’ diameter x 7’ 10” deep, with approx 60 ft. of attemporator coil; adjustable parachute. Capacity about 49 barrels.

R.B.92. FERMENTING VAT similar to item 89, but 8’ 6” diameter x 8’ 8” deep.

R.B.3. Totally enclosed Glass lined welded steel TANK, 2’ 6” diameter x 3’ 3” deep, raised manhole 18” diameter, with hinged cover and clamps; dished bottom; centre bottom outlet; 2 top connections; mounted on 3 pedestals; capacity 3 barrels.

R.B.93. Hand operated Wall mounted HOIST, similar to item No. 84.

R.B.86. Pair of Pine FERMENTING VATS by Carty, 12’ 19’ x 8’ deep, in two compartments; built of 3” timber bolted together; each compartment fitted with approx. 100 ft. of 1 ¼” copper attemporator coil; with adjustable parachute; capacity each 100 barrels.

R.B.87. Range of 3 Pine FERMENTING VATS by Carty about 12’ x 19’ x 8’ deep, divided into 3 compartments; one copper lined 100 barrels capacity, and two 50 barrels capacity; each with adjustable parachute and copper attemporator coil.

R.B.88. Pine FERMENTING VAT by Carty, 5’ 6” diameter x 6’ x 6” deep, with approx. 40 ft. of copper attemporator coil; and adjustable parachute. Capacity 28 barrels.

R.B.4/5. TWO Portable Globular ALUMINIUM VESSELS, 4’ diameter x 3’ 4” deep with 14” diameter manhole cover; bolted on with fly-nuts; 8” diameter flanged inlet at top; 2” diameter discharge at bottom; by Aluminium Plant & Vessel Co., mounted on 4 wheel trolley.

R.B.6. Portable Horizontal Cylindrical ALUMINIUM VESSEL 6’ long x 4’ diameter; oval manhole with hinged cover; two 8” inlets at top; and 2” discharge at bottom; mounted on 4 wheel trolley.

R.B.95. AMMONIA REFRIGERATING PLANT by J. & E. Hall; having a capacity of 6 barrels per hour, comprising belt driven Vertical Single Compressor No. 6923. Having cylinder 6” diameter x 8” stroke; 170 r.p.m.; fast and loose pulleys 40” diameter x 7” face; with oil separator and 2 Ammonia Gauges; Brine Tank 3’ 9” diameter x 7’ deep with coil in insulated casing; Condenser with about 400 ft. of 1 ½” coil; two belt-driven 1 ½” circulating pumps.

R.B.46. 12 h.p. Brook SLIP RING MOTOR, 400 volts, 3 phase, 50 cycles 1,000 r.p.m.; nall bearings; enclosed ventilated type, with pulley 9” diameter x 15” face; slide rails, Air break combined Stator and Rotor Starter with N.V. and 2 O.L. releases, and 3 Pole Switch.

R.B.99. Worssam COUNTER-CURRENT CHILLER; 5 barrel capacity.

R.B.96/8 Battery of 3 Montague Sharp CHILLING AND CARBONATING CYLINDERS, each 1 ¼ barrel capacity, with fast and loose pulleys 24” diameter for 3” belt; safety valve and pressure gauge.

R.B.103. Belt-driven 1” Gunmetal DRUM PUMP, with fast and loose pulleys 8” diameter for 2” belt.

R.B.48. Glass Lined open top welded steel TANK 3’ 6” x 1’ 6” x 1’ 5” deep; with bottom outlet.

R.B.100/1. Worssam Motor-driven 1 ½” Centrifugal gunmetal BEER PUMP, direct coupled on one bedplate to 2 ½ h.p. single phase motor 230 volts, 50 cycles, 1,000 r.p.m., with Switch.

R.B.102. 6 h.p. Brook SLIP RING MOTOR, 400 volts, 3 phase, 50 cycles, 1.500 r.p.m.; with pulley 6” diameter x 9” face; ball bearings; enclosed ventilated type; Air break combined Stator and Rotor Starter aith N.V. and 2 O.L. releases, and 3 pole Switch.

R.B.26/31. Six Glass Lined Vertical Cylindrical TANKS, 5’ 10” diameter x 7’ high; three eighths of an inch plate; with manhole hinged cover and fittings; 3 mounted on 4 pedestals, and 3 mounted on 6 pedestals; capacity 30 barrels each.

R.B.37/38. Two Glass Lined Vertical Cylindrical TANKS, 4’ 3” diameter x 6’ 6” deep; five sixteenths of an inch plate; manhole and hinged cover; mountings and fittings, and rousing gear; mounted on 4 pedestals; capacity 15 barrels each.

R.B.36. Glass Lined Vertical Cylindrical TANK 4’ 6” diameter x 6’ deep; five sixteenths of an inch plate; manhole with hinged cover; mountings and fittings; mounted on 4 pedestals; capacity 15 barrels.

R.B.34/5. Two Glass Lined Vertical Cylindrical TANKS, 3’ 10 ½” diameter x 5’ 6” deep; five sixteenths of an inch plate, manhole with hinged cover; mountings and fittings and sight gauges; mounted on 4 pedestals; capacity 10 barrels each.

R.B.32/3. Two Glass Lined Vertical Cylindrical TANKS, 3’ 6” diameter x 4’ deep; five sixteenths of an inch plate; manhole with hinged cover; mountings and fittings; mounted on 4 pedestals; capacity 6 barrels each.

R.B.104/5. Two “ENZINER” PORTABLE BEER FILTERS, size No. 4, each with about 30 12” plates; fitted with pre-filter; 2 ¼” diameter hand operated screw. Quantity of spare plates.

R.B.109. Pontifex 18 head Patent Rotary COUNTER PRESSURE BOTTLER, No. 1037, with 4 speed gear; driving pulley 14” diameter for 2” belt, with quick operating disengaging clutch. Capacity 3,000 pints per hour.

R.B.110. Pontifex 12 head Patent Rotary COUNTER PRESSURE BOTTLER. No 725, with 4 speed gear, driving pulley 14” diameter for 2” belt; with quick operating disengaging clutch. Capacity 2,040 pints per hour.

R.B.50. Broom & Wade Belt-driven Vertical AIR COMPRESSOR (No. 18565) with cylinder 4” diameter x 5” stroke; fast and loose pulleys 14” diameter for 3 ½” belt, to run at 420 r.p.m.; 12 cu. ft. of free air per min.; with Vertical Air Receiver 7’ 6” high x 2’ diameter with relief valve and pressure gauge. 100 lbs pressure. Galvanised Water Tank 24” x 18” x 18” deep.

R.B.51. 3 H.P. Brook SLIP RING MOTOR, 400 volts, 3 phase, 50 cycles, 1,000 r.p.m.; ball bearing; enclosed ventilated type, with pulley 9” diameter x 5” face; slide rails; Air break combined Stator and Rotor Starter with N.V. and 20.L. releases and 3 pole Switch.

R.B.52. Johnson Yeast FILTER PRESS; 18 cast iron plates 18” square; with gunmetal fittings; 2 ½” diameter hand operated screw.

R.B.42. “ASCO” YEAST CABINET by Ser-Vel Refrigeration Co. (No. 75a 1182) new 1937; Cabinet 6’ x 6’ x 6’ inside with quick locking door; Double cylinder Compressor driven through “V” belt by ¾ H.P. squirrel cage motor, 230 volts, single phase, 50 cycles, 1,450 r.p.m.; ball bearings; fitted with “Teddington” Thermostatic Control.

R.B.41. Glass Lined Cast Iron TANK 2’ 5” x 2’ 5” x 1’ 6” deep.

R.B.53. Belt-driven BARREL ELEVATOR, about 13’ centres; to lift total height of 13’; by g.j. Worssam; steel endless chain carried on 21 pairs of rollers and 10” x 6” R.S.J. Framing; spur reduction gear; fast and loose pulleys 30” diameter x 4 ½” face.

R.B.54. 7 ½ H.P. BROOK SLIP RING MOTOR, 400 volts, 3 phase, 50 cycles, 1,440 r.p.m.; (W.T. 15661) ring oil bearings; open type; brush lifting device; pulley 8” diameter x 9” face; slide rails. Brook Air break Combined Stator and Rotor Starter with N.V. and 20.L. releases and 3 pole Switch.

CASK WASHING.

R.B.57/61. Thompson CASK WASHING PLANT, comprising revolving table let into ground, with internal high pressure water nozzle and external air nozzle; 10-stage horizontal Turbine Pump by Mather & Platt; 3” suction and 1 ½” delivery; direct driven by 18 H.P. Brook slip ring Motor, 400 Volts, 3 phase, 50 cycles, 1,500 r.p.m.; (No. W.T. 15961) ball bearings; enclosed fan ventilated type with air break combined Stator and Rotor Starter with N.V. and 2 O.L. releases, 3 pole Switch, Belt-driven 1 ½” Rotary Pressure Air Pump by Leimac Bros., size “D”, running at 300 r.p.m.; fast and loose pulleys; Air receiver 20” high x 18” diameter, driven by 5 H.P. Brook slip ring Motor, 400 volts, 3 phase, 50 cycles, 1,500 r.p.m.; ball bearings; with pulley 6” diameter x 4” face; slide rails; Brook Air Break Combined Stator and Rotor Starter with N.V. and 2 O.L. releases, 3 pole Switch.

R.B.7. Cast Iron enclosed TANK, 11’ x 6’ x 4’; capacity about 1,900 gallons.

R.B.62. Hand operated EMPTY BARREL HOIST, with Double Purchase Hand Crab Winch, barrel 5” diameter x 18” long; cast iron side; hand operated hand brake.

R.B.128. Open Top Cast Iron TANK, about 15’ x 8’ x 4’ deep; capacity about 3,000 gallons.

CHILLING AND BOTTLING HOUSE.

R.B.39/40. Two Carbon Dioxide STEEL STORAGE TANKS, 14’ 6” long by 5’ diameter, built of eleven sixteenths inch plate with double riveted circular seams; butt straps with 4 rows of rivets on longl. Seams; double riveted manhole; with cover; dish ended; pressure gauge and 2 connections (1” and ¾” in top of tank and ¾” outlet one end at bottom; 200 lbs. Working pressure.

R.B.47. B.E.C. belt-driven AUTOMATIC CROWN CORKING MACHINE, with foot-operated clutch; fast and loose pulleys 13” diameter for 2” belt.

R.B.49. Hand operated CROWN CORKING MACHINE by Barnett & Foster.

R.B.111. Clayton 4 head BACK PRESSURE HAND-OPERATED CIDER FILLING MACHINE; with gunmetal cylinder 30” long x 6” diameter.

R.B.106. PULP WASHER & STERILIZER by G. J. Hopkins, 5’ 4” diameter x 4’ 2” deep; steam and water connections, with 4” centrifugal pump agitation. Pump has fast and loose pulleys 12” diameter for 2” belt. Mounted on 4 cast iron pedestals.

R.B.107/8. Two Hand PULP PRESSES for pressing pulp for filters. By Montague Sharp, mounted on cast iron stands.

R.B.112/115. MILLER-HYDRO AUTOMATIC BOTTLE WASHING PLANT, supplied 1925; endless chain with 7 revolving jet heads for washing and one for cold rinsing; 3 filtering compartments. Revolving heads driven through worm reduction gear by 1 ½ h.p. Hopkinson squirrel cage motor 400 volts, 3 phase, 50 cycles, 1,400 r.p.m. with M.E.M. push-button control and switch. Motor-driven 3” centrifugal Pump having a capacity of 380 gallons per minute at 76 ft. head when running at 1,450 r.p.m. driven by 15 h.p. Hopkinson slip ring motor 400 volts, 3 phase, 50 cycles, 1,450 r.p.m.; on combined bedplate; Air break combined Stator and Rotor Starter with N.V. and 2 O.L. releases and 3 pole Switch. Capacity 160 dozen 1 pint bottles per hour.

R.B.116/119. HAND BOTTLE WASHING PLANT by B.E.C., comprising Soaking Machine with drum 6’ diameter. X 21” wide carried in steel trough. 20 head Bottle Washer (No. 1049) 2 head Brushing Machine (No. 864) and 20 head Rinser. Fast and loose pulleys 6” diameter for 1 ½” belt; with gearing, pulleys and belts.

R.B.120/2. Worssam PASTEURISING PLANT; riveted steel chamber 5’ 3” x 3’ 10” x 6’ 6” high, with two portable trucks each with 4 double shelves, capacity 70 dozen ½ pints. Motor-driven 1 ½” centrifugal pump coupled on one bedplate and driven by 1 ½ h.p. Fuller Motor 230 volts, single phase, 50 cycles, 1,420 r.p.m. with Starter and Switch.

R.B.123/4. Two Hand Revolving LABELLING TABLES. 48” diameter on cast iron stand.

R.B.125. 14’ length of 16” wide GRAVITY RUNWAY; rollers spaced at 4” centres; mounted on angle iron frame, one end 2’ 6” high, the other 1’ 6” high.

R.B.126. Four Special gunmetal “UNDERWORT” TAPS.


R.B.127. Two Negretti & Zambra TEMPERATURE GAUGES, one reading 40 to 220 F. the other 60 to 260 F.

R.B.136. 7 ½ h.p. SLIP RING MOTOR 400 volts, 3 phase, 50 cycles, 1,400 r.p.m. ring oil bearings; brush lifting device; with Starter.

R.P.137. ½ h.p. SQUIRREL CAGE MOTOR 230 volts, single phase, 50 cycles, 1400 r.p.m. with ball bearings.

R.B.138. Worssam PORTABLE MOTOR-DRIVEN GUNMETAL ROUSER PUMP, direct coupled to and driven by 1 ½ h.p. Motor, 230 volts, 50 cycles, single phase, 1,400 r.p.m. with starter. All self-contained on 4 wheel rubber tyred trolley, with trailing cable.

R.B.139. 2 h.p. BROOK MOTOR, 230 volts, 50 cycles, single phase, 1,500 r.p.m; closed ventilated type; ball bearings; slide rails; pulley 5” diameter for 5” belt. Starter and Switch.

R.B.140. 1 h.p. MOTOR, 200 volts, 50 cycles, single phase, 1,460 r.p.m., protected type; ball bearings. With Starter.




Before departing from Mellersh & Neale, I would like to share with you a charming little ditty reportedly sung by employees of the firm whilst on Charabanc outings & annual beanfeasts. It was a drinking song and apparently it was often sung to the tune of “The Derby Ram”, the words ran something like this:

Let us sing the song of the beer, sir.
Which is brewed by Mellersh & Neale;
It flows in the tankard so cool, Sir,
As clear as quality’s seal.

Chorus: Sing hey, ringle, dangle;
Sing to my jolly crew,
For Mellersh & Neale’s beer. Sir,
Is Britain’s bonniest brew.

A century and more ago, Sir,
This Brewery saw the day,
And millions of gallons of beer, Sir,
Have eased the thorny way.

Chorus: Sing hey, etc.

Malt and hops and yeast, Sir,
With water so crystal clear;
These are the gifts of the earth, Sir
Which go to brew your beer.

Chorus: Sing hey, etc.

As you tramp the footpath way, Sir,
Or walk the dusty road.
There’s an inn at your journey’s end, Sir,
To lighten the heaviest load.

Chorus: Sing hey, etc
There is food for an aching void, Sir,
There is talk for a wagging tongue,
There is beer for a thirsty throat, Sir,
And a song for a lusty lung.

Chorus: Sing hey, etc

You may trample the sanded floor, Sir,
And fling your dart with the best,
A tankard or may be two, Sir,
And live your life with a zest.

Chorus: Sing hey, etc

So lift your tankard high, Sir,
And drink to men of old,
And drink to the men of today, Sir,
Who do what their fathers told.

Chorus: Sing hey, etc

For they brew the best of beer, Sir,
Way down in Reigate town,
Mellow and rich and cool, Sir,
So up to your eyes – then down!

Chorus: Sing hey, etc