by Mildred Cookson, The Mills Archive Trust
Rex, like his father, was first and foremost an engineer, but soon became the
authority on wind and watermills. As an engineer he was also interested in industrial
sites, such as foundries, brickworks and waterworks. One of my other interests
is in breweries, so I was delighted to see that he had spent some time at
Palmer’s Brewery in Bridport, Dorset.
The brewery dates back to 1794 when the Dorset rope and net maker, the Gundry family, built the brewery on the banks of the River Brit. In the late 19th century, two Palmers brothers, John Cleeves and Robert Henry, bought the brewery and gave it their names: JC & RH Palmer. Today, their website points out, their great grandsons, John and Cleeves Palmer, work in the company.
In all of 226 years, the mill had never ceased brewing nor the waterwheel stopped working, until March of this year. Then coronavirus called a halt to both, on the very same day that we closed the Mills Archive to visitors. When closed the brewery owners looked after their staff and tenants and they are now happily back in production. Which is great news as one of their well-regarded tours of the brewery is still on my bucket list!
The Global Miller
This blog is maintained by The Global Miller staff and is supported by the magazine Milling and Grain
which is published by Perendale Publishers Limited.
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