Belhaven Brewery, Brewery Lane, Belhaven, Dunbar, Dunbar, East Lothian

Description

Founded 1719, rebuilt and enlarged in 1814 and 1887, possibly incorporating 18th century vaults and fragments. Brewery

composed of former maltings, kilns and brewhouse. Brick

additions of late 19th century and 20th century.

MALTINGS: probably 1814. 4 x 4 bay, 3-storey sandstone rubble

block with triple piended pantiled roofs and slate easing

course. 4-pane glazing pattern.

N FRONT: 1887 dated lintel of westmost doorway; enlarged

entrance in 2nd bay to E. Ground floor door altered to window

and 3rd floor hoist door blocked.

E SIDE: asymmetrical ground floor openings with door left of

final bay to N. Timber-clad, gabletted and slated hoist

projecting from 2nd bay to left, probably moved from central

position 1887.

S SIDE: similar. Abutted by rubble-built piend roofed

intermediary block with lean-to modern brick extension,

connecting maltings to kilns.

INTERIOR: 5 x 5 rows of stout cast-iron columns with sockets

for timber beams, replaced circa 1900 by steel girders. Later

concrete floor to final bay E otherwise timber collar beam

roofs.

KILNS: 3 square plan sandstone rubble kilns of varying 19th

century dates. S and SW ones raised 1887. Various later

alterations and additions. Interior of N kiln with timber

roof, grilled drying floor on wrought-iron tension rods. S

kiln entered through re-entrant angle. SW kiln bull-nose

rendered above base. N and S kilns with slated, pyramid

tapering to funnel roofs; leaded ventilator caps. SW kiln

with piended pantile roof, slate eaves easing course to E and

tall timber ventilator tower at ridge intersection to S.

VAULTED CELLARS: between SW kiln and maltings. 2 painted

rubble vaults possibly of 18th century with low curved

chamber. Higher, wider brick vault to S, 1814 dated block on

former outer gable skew above cellars. Upper floors and roof

since altered.

PRODUCTIVE BUILDINGS: 1887. Gabled brick block with roofs at

4 different levels, running E-W, abutting earlier maltings to

E. Pantiled roof with slate eaves easing course at intervals.

BREWHOUSE: N front of 6 bays, 2 centre bays raised to

3-storey height. 2 gabletted slated dormers breaking eaves to

W, one a former loft opening, retaining pulley above. Varied

and altered openings below.

BOILER/ENGINE HOUSE: full-height, to W of brewhouse. Louvred

ventilators with pyramidal caps to ridge and S lower slope of boilerhouse inverted mansard. Cast-iron rectangular water

tank above central roof to S. Circular section brick chimney

stalk on square section pedestal, rising from roof slope; red

brick with yellow fire brick above and cornice.

Interiors: copper and timber mash tun at W of brewhouse.

Fermenting tanks to E.

OFFICE: early 19th century. Single storey office in sandstone

rubble with late 19th century addition to N in brick with

ashlar dressings. Original office with mullioned window to

S, small-pane glazing pattern, and doorway to E. N addition

with 4-centred arch lintel and decorative leaded glazing

pattern. Pantiled roofing with slate easing course, pyramidal

over original, piended over extension.

INTERIOR: original office with coomb ceiling and plaster

rose; pilasters to window mullions.

JOINER'S SHOP: early 19th century rectangular block, probably

stables originally. Sandstone rubble. Variety of openings,

altered or blocked overall.

W ENTRANCE FRONT: window and wide door to N and door to S.

E-FRONT: window to S with further windows flanking slated,

gabled hayloft and blocked brick former door below. Brick

lean-to with corrugated-iron roof to N end.

N-GABLE: large machinery doors.

INTERIOR: cobbled floor and timber ceiling multi-pane glazing

pattern. Pantiled piend roof.

MAINTENANCE WORKSHOP: early 19th century T-plan sandstone

rubble mill building with later brick lean-to extension to E incorporating early wall on N.

W-gable blank with lade below. N-side of 2 doorways with

ashlar lintels, wider with semi-lugged architrave. Pantiled

piend roof to original block; brick stack.

Statement of Interest

Now the oldest working brewery in Scotland. A medieval

monastic settlement on same site, allegedly saw beginning of

Belhaven brewing. Fire of 1887 led to much rebuilding. Former

maltings assisted at West Barns (now demolished). Monkscroft, neighbouring house associated with brewery (listed

separately). Listing excludes 1974 bottling plant to S, 1954

garage to E new stores by offices, office and laboratory by

garden, the dis-used malt-store to W and lean-to additions by

kilns. The plant is mainly 1973-4 but incorporates

second-hand machinery from Edinburgh, Falkirk and

Northamptonshire.

External Links

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