SNN110335 - Historic building recording at the former Anchor Brewery, Mill Road, Oundle, Northamptonshire, May 2015-March 2016

MOLA was commissioned to carry out a programme of historic building recording at the former Anchor Brewery, Mill Road, Oundle, Northamptonshire, ahead of a proposed scheme of renovation and conversion of the buildings to residential dwellings. Recording encompassed the Brewery and associated Stables and outbuildings as well as the Maltings, oast house, and blacksmith’s workshop and cart shed. No.99 South Road, a late-18th century cottage which formerly served as the Brewery office was also recorded. The Brewery was founded in 1854 and the majority of the recorded buildings are of this date. Remains of earlier, stone-built structures relate to former late-18th century buildings which were demolished ahead of the construction of the Brewery. The buildings have been largely cleared of brewing equipment; however, the supporting timbers for mash tuns and water tanks survived within the Brewery, and a well-built timber hoist remained at ground floor. A brick kiln with metal platform and kiln tile drying floor above remained within the oast house. Other surviving features included a blacksmith’s forge, the Brewery’s copper underworks, a water pump, elevated dovecote and stable fittings.