“Some may question its flavour, but none its potency”:
A history of brewing in Oxford
As early as the 13th century, professional commercial brewers had begun to appear in Oxford, and brewing became big business, both in the colleges and in the town. There were brewhouses in the castle and at the Radcliffe Infirmary, and by the 19th century the place was awash with beer: in 1883 it was reported that there were no fewer than 319 licensed premises in the city, and that more money was being spent on alcohol than on food. This talk will examine how and why – despite Temperance efforts – Oxford’s brewing trade flourished.
Please note that the content of this talk overlaps to some extent with that of the talk on Beer Sausages and Marmalade.
“An engaging talk with marvellous contemporary pictures of old Oxford brewery buildings, thoroughly enjoyed by the audience.” Alan Winchcomb, Chairman, Goring Gap Local History Society, May 2021
A guided walk on this subject is also available.
Contact me on 01865 242760 or liz@lizwoolley.co.uk to book this talk.