Comments on: Ely Ales & Forehill Brewery – A Brief History

By: Peter Edwards

Peter Edwards — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 20:41:18 +0000

I have recently found a bottle (Brown) with ‘A&B Hall Ltd. Ely and Lincoln’ embossed. The bottle has a screw top but the thread is on the inside of the neck. On the bottom of the bottle it has B685UGB s1928. Is this any interest to you?

By: freda

freda — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 16:28:54 +0000

Can anyone tell me if there is any connection with the Hall, Cutlack & Harlock Brewers to William Cutlack, father of Susan Cutlack, born about 1810 in Littleport. She went on to marry William Flanders in 1830. I am afraid I have no more details on William Cutlack at all! Any help very much appreciated
email : fredasmith@ntlworld.com

By: Sarah King Head

Sarah King Head — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 02:11:37 +0000

Hello,
I’m trying to reach the breweries historian Keith Osborne in connection with some photos and beer labels he has (or has access to) of my family’s brewery in Syresham, Northamptonshire: Kings Brewery.
I would be grateful if anyone who knows of him (or he himself) could contact me at the following email address.
Many thanks,
Sarah King Head
kingheadsarah@gmail.com

By: kim walter

kim walter — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:09:55 +0000

My Great Grandfather was the landlord of The Black Bull in Waterside during various years, as was his brother Henry James Oakman mine (Benjimine Oakman). I know the sign hangs in the museum, but do’es anyone have info on Benjimine, his wife was Margaret. He run the pub till 1916 and noticed they both died that same year, did anything befall them both or was there a epidemic of something in Ely.
Benjimine was one of the sons of Nathan Oakman,and i know he died of heat aploxy, he also worked as a Maltser. Do’es anyone have info or pictures of this family from the late 1800’s or early 1900’s when the Oakman Family
were in and around Ely.

thanks
Kim Walter
Email; kwitchykim@aol.com

By: Andy Augustus

Andy Augustus — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 19:14:14 +0000

Can somebody please confirm whether Randolph and George Hall of St Mary’s Green, Ely, around 1891, are part of the Hall brewing family, (A&B Hall&Co)? Indeed, is this the address of the firm’s head office or is it perhaps the Hall family home? Any idea where I can learn more about this enterprising family?

Thanks.
Andy Augustus
Email:andyaugustus@hotmail.com

By: Andy Augustus

Andy Augustus — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 21:34:29 +0000

The occupation of my gg grandfather William Oakman born 1844 is given in the 1881 UK Census as ‘malster’. I am keen to know which Cambridgeshire brewery he worked in, what his job involved and anything else about this relative.

Thanks.
Andy Augustus
Email:andyaugustus@hotmail.com

By: paul anniss

paul anniss — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 19:43:05 +0000

Please could you advise me as building a block of flats in peterborough cambs we dug a few bottles with the letters “CUTLACK&HARLOCK LTD” on them with “BAGLEY&CO LTD” KNOTTINGLEY 2796 still in mint condition with the glass marble still in place.

By: Val Shipley

Val Shipley — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 20:37:05 +0000

My husband found a green bottle with A&B Hall Ltd Ely and Lincoln on the side and GS&CoLtd 1924 No10673 on the bottom. It is half full of a liquid with sediment in it and a cork in the top. The botle is in very good condition. He found it under a hedge in a field when he was out ferreting. Could you tell us what the contents would have been and if the date on the bottom relates to the time it would have been bottled?

By: melvyn brown

melvyn brown — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 15:55:46 +0000

My grandfather was landlord of the Marquis of Granby at Guyhirn nr Wisbech from approx 1925 until 1954 which was an ELY ALES pub sometime during this period,
He also ran a coach business from the premises called Marquis Servies do you know if there are any records in the ely ales archives of him or the pub?

Regards Mel.

By: Leonard Denham

Leonard Denham — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 19:26:14 +0000

Has anybody any thoughts on why my great-uncle from Kilburn (NW London) should have settled in Fenstanton at the time of the 1901 census? His occupation is stated to be mineral water maker. It is rather too far from Ely for daily work I should think but perhaps somebody with local knowledge might know if there was a nearer plant?

By: Edward Redvers Heatley

Edward Redvers Heatley — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 11:27:58 +0000

Dear Sirs
It was interesting to read all about the Ely Brewery that brought back many happy memories of when I served a mechanical Engieering endentured Apprenticeship at the Ely Brewery, CARDIFF between 1950 & 1955

Should any of your contributers require information on the Cardiff Ely Brewery I would be pleased if you would pass on my Email address.

Eddie Healtey
Malta GC

By: Eugene

Eugene — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 23:01:50 +0000

Looking forward for more information about this. thanks for sharing.

By: Robin Maris

Robin Maris — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 20:49:32 +0000

My grandfather was William Cutlack who lived at Barton Mills. I went to the brewery in the school holidays about 1950. Mr. Goodliffe was a director of the brewery.

By: Graham clarine

Graham clarine — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 02:30:38 +0000

I am researching my family tree. Does anyone have any information of an accident at Ely Brewery in December 1904. My Great Uncle William Kingston, was badly hurt when a barrel of sugar fell on him while being lifted. He sadly died of his injuries on the 28th of December 1904 aged 17 years. A coroner inquest took place on the 30th of December 1904. I have been unable to find any newspaper articles of this accident so far and would be greatful of any help you can give me.

By: Candy Newman

Candy Newman — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 16:59:54 +0000

Does anyone know if this Brewery has a connection to a family by the name of Goodliffe? They owned a brewery in this area in the 50’s/60’s but i’m not positive which it was – anyone able to enlighten me?

By: Ray King

Ray King — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 17:22:51 +0000

I would be interested in contacting Teresa (see above) as my relations also kept the ‘Bird in Hand’ and the ‘Judes Ferry’

By: susan draper

susan draper — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 13:30:57 +0000

Looking for a reply to my quest for informtion Paul Hickman replied but I cannot access it. Please send again

By: Paul Hickman

Paul Hickman — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 16:02:37 +0000

By: Paul Hickman

Paul Hickman — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 09:20:52 +0000

As a collector of Lincoln beer bottles I was very interested in your informative web site re. Halls of Ely. I have several variations of A&B Hall, Lincoln & Ely examples. I am currently researching Lincoln firms and would appreciate any information regarding when Hall`s association with Lincoln began + any other facts.

By: John Murray

John Murray — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 12:08:43 +0000

I have an old large brown bottle marked ELY BREWERY.
Is it any use to the museum? Or are they as common as muck?
I don’t know, but before I put it in recycling bin would someone let me know?
Cheers.

By: susan draper

susan draper — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 13:52:09 +0000

Anyone have an answer to Susan’s question?

Please could I have an answer to my query of August 16th 2006. I want to know when the house started to become a beer house and who it was bought from please?

By: Verity Marston

Verity Marston — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 16:50:03 +0000

Hello! We live in West Row and in the summer of last year my son (9) dug up a clear glass bottle in our garden with the name Cutlack & Harlock ltd. Ely on it, only a small bottle, we reckon it held 330ml of liquid, the bottle is in a good condition.

Just this week, our youngest son (5) found a rubbery type stopper with matching name on it in his school playing field at west row, he put his treasure in his coat pocket as he knew the ELY was the same as our bottle at home. It is a perfect fit it is black and has a thread.

If any one could shed any light on what may have been in this bottle (looks too small for beer?) and how old it may be, that would be great!

Many thanks
Paul, Verity, Alfie and Toby Marston

By: Barry Chapman

Barry Chapman — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 19:09:01 +0000

My first job on leaving school was at Ely Brewery at Fore Hill. I worked alongside my brother, Terry who had a foreman’s job! I remember getting 2 pints of bitter at break times served in our own glass at 15, I didnt like it much but felt I had to drink it couldnt look a sissy! I think the year was 1956. I then was offered a job as apprentice to the Brewery signwriter in his studio which was situated at Queyside just down the road. I had a happy time there watching a very clever and talented artist at work. Unfortunately he died and my apprenticeship came to an end. My brother went on to run several pubs in the Ely area. I moved away but does anyone remember me Barry Chapman but my :mates: called me Horace !!

By: Dawn

Dawn — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 20:48:20 +0000

How interesting !!! I am a Harlock and I like to think that I am a descendant of the brewer named Harlock !!!

By: Matt JD Bell

Matt JD Bell — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 13:30:15 +0000

My great grandma has an unopened bottle of “Rare Old Port”, which she was given on her 21st birthday she is now 83 years old, I would like some information about it, and its current value.

By: Karl Bedingfield

Karl Bedingfield — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 04:58:32 +0000

Cutlacks used to be situated at the very end of Market Street but relocated a few years ago to Fore Hill. It's original location is now the Hereward Pub. You can view some pictures of the Hereward on my Flickr site.

By: Chrystine Dimitry

Chrystine Dimitry — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 23:01:29 +0000

Oh, Waitrose! I thought it was Sainsbury’s when I went back for a visit in 1994. Well, if those are in Lincoln, then they obviously aren’t the ones I remember! But you have to admit, they sort of look the same …

Say, is there still a Cutlack’s home and garden/hardware type shop on the High (or maybe Market) Street in Ely? And would that be the same family?

By: Karl Bedingfield

Karl Bedingfield — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 18:50:28 +0000

No, these are the Crown Brewery buildings Craig spoke of in Lincoln if you are referring to the picture above in the comments.

You would be referring to auction and cattle market that was indeed where Waitrose now is located.

By: Craig

Craig — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 18:41:25 +0000

No Chrystine, this site is Crown Brewery in Lincoln and now it houses the local bus station (with a car park on the roof)and a Co-op store!

By: Chrystine Dimitry

Chrystine Dimitry — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 18:27:27 +0000

Are these the buildings that used to be located where Sainsbury’s are now? When I lived in Ely, there was a weekly auction held there. The auction buildings greatly resembled these in the photo.

By: Craig

Craig — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 08:48:21 +0000

Many thanks to Kate for her help and to Karl for his input. Much appreciated.

By: Karl Bedingfield

Karl Bedingfield — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 19:46:41 +0000

Here is that very image. I didn't think it would be up very long at the auction site.

By: Kate Johnson

Kate Johnson — Sun, 10 Jun 2007 22:15:38 +0000

Craig, I came across your query when I was looking for information about the Crown Brewery as I believe it was once owned by my great great great grandfather William Henry Brook.When I did a Google search I got a link to an auctioneers which had recently had up for auction a picture of the brewery yard of the Crown brewery which you might be interested in seeing. The link is http://www.thos-mawer.co.uk/Catalogues/AS030307/page27.htm

Hope this helps. I will e-mail this to you directly as well as leaving it here.

Kate

By: Craig

Craig — Tue, 29 May 2007 13:36:48 +0000

I know this is a long shot, but does anyone have any more info/photos of Crown Brewery Lincoln? My parents lived there when they first got married (in the 40’s) but the buildings were sadly long gone by the time i came along and i would love to see them. Please contact; craig.browns@ntlworld.com

By: Keith Osborne

Keith Osborne — Tue, 01 May 2007 20:20:24 +0000

I came across your excellent article quite by chance. I’ve researched the breweries of the UK for 40 years and collected beer labels. I’ve obtained, in this time, labels from Hall Cutlack & Harlock, and their predecessors, A & B Hall (Ely & Crown Brewery, Lincoln), Cutlack & Harlock, Cutlacks of Littleport; and Legge’s Brewery of Ely (barrel label), as well as East Anglian Breweries labels (and Huntingdon Breweries).

I’m still searching for Mills of Wisbech labels (bought by Halls 1938) and Phillips of Downham Market (ceased 1945). Maybe someone out there has some?

Keith

By: Teresa

Teresa — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 15:00:34 +0000

I recently found the brewery that supplied my 2x great grandfather was the one on your site. I’m trying to find out if there is any way I can see if there were any records regarding the Pub they supplied and my ancestor. The pub was the Judes Ferry in West Row around 1910 onwards.
My 3x great grandfather owned The Bird In Hand in Beck Row for many years also. Could you help in any way? Look forward to hearing from you and I enjoyed reading the info on your site, many thanks regards Teresa

By: John Eason

John Eason — Sun, 08 Apr 2007 23:34:03 +0000

One of my mother’s great uncles (William Guyatt, born 1860) owned a mineral water bottling company in Burwell from some time in the late 1800s. His son’s birth certificate for 1896 shows his occupation as ‘mineral water manufacturer’, although I don’t know much more about him apart from the fact that the address where his son was born was ‘Heigh Town, Burwell’.

By: John Darlington

John Darlington — Thu, 04 Jan 2007 17:21:58 +0000

As an ardent homebrewer who moved to Ely from the Norwich area 20 years ago and found that all I could make was “Cr**” -because of the water (the only variable), could you tell me: a) where the Ely Brewery got there water, b) did they have to condition it c) did their beer taste as bad as my many efforts and d) is that why they went out of business?
Sorry to be technical!!

By: James O'Donnell

James O'Donnell — Fri, 10 Nov 2006 01:49:39 +0000

Delighted to find this site. My mother was Ada Harlock born 1904.A relative of the brewers, she was a beneficery from the will of Florence Harlock in 1948.

By: Susan Draper

Susan Draper — Wed, 16 Aug 2006 08:13:16 +0000

We live in Nordelph. Our house was formerly the New Bridge Inn. According to the records it was licensed as an inn and Frank Mills/Hall, Cutlack and Harlock were the owners. How do we find out when the house was first built? Presumably it was not built as an inn. It is quite a big property with what could have been stabling at the back, now part of the house. Any information please.

By: Bob

Bob — Sun, 07 May 2006 19:10:27 +0000

I have just brought one of the new town houses in the Barrel Store. There is an engraving of E.W.H. 1879 on the building.

There is similar one on the Maltings E.W.H. 186(?). Who is E.W.H.? Was it one of the Harlocks?

By: Chrystine Dimitry

Chrystine Dimitry — Mon, 03 Apr 2006 01:12:52 +0000

Yes, indeed, that is the exact tray! Only yours is in better condition than mine; I have a few scratches in the paint, but not too bad. No bad dents or anything.

By: Karl Bedingfield

Karl Bedingfield — Sun, 02 Apr 2006 16:10:50 +0000

Andy Bush: I will see what I can find outfor you at Ely Museum. Chrystine Dimitry: Would it be this tray by any chance?

By: Chrystine Dimitry

Chrystine Dimitry — Sat, 01 Apr 2006 22:59:39 +0000

Wow, that was fascinating! I have an old bar tray that advertises Ely Ales, but could never find out anthing about it.

Thanks for the info!

By: Andy Bush

Andy Bush — Thu, 30 Mar 2006 20:47:15 +0000

Nice article about Ely Ales – very informative.
Particularly interested in the mineral water side, as there was another mineral water factory in Ely owned by one Abraham Smith, my maternal great-grandfather. There is no family history recorded, but the census of 1901 and 1891 describe him as a mineral water manufacturer.
Any information about?
Would welcome any leads you might offer.

By: Martin

Martin — Mon, 06 Mar 2006 13:12:36 +0000

Neil, it all depends what you want. What do you want?

By: Neil Matheson

Neil Matheson — Mon, 06 Mar 2006 10:45:22 +0000

I’m going to be relocating to the area. Is Ely the place to live, despite being more expensive for property, or the surrounding towns and villages to be recommended?

By: Karl Bedingfield

Karl Bedingfield — Tue, 28 Feb 2006 19:18:07 +0000

Philip,
I’m afraid not. This is Ely in Cambridgeshire.

By: Philip Beesley

Philip Beesley — Tue, 28 Feb 2006 19:15:01 +0000

Is this the Ely Brewery of Cardiff as I think that they may have owned the Pub that I now run and would like to find out as much as I can about The Aberaman Hotel in Aberaman Aberdare

By: Jane

Jane — Thu, 25 Aug 2005 12:55:37 +0000

I have read that the maltings in Burwell, later converted to cottages and known as Jerusalem Yard was owned by Messrs Hall of Ely. do you have any information on this please?