Tolly Cobbold Brewery
Was another impromptu explore in the middle of the day just checking off a pin which all went rather well, the only incident being some youngsters trying to get in, one of which made a sketchy climb then couldn't get out
I escorted him to a alternative & considerably easier exit & that was the last we saw of them.
Unfortunately the brewing vats have long gone but it was still a superb explore.
The Tolly Cobbold name is an amalgamation of two brewing family names, the Tollymache family, and the Cobbold family. Cobbold's original brewery was founded in Harwich in 1723, with the Cobbold Cliff Brewery in Ipswich being founded on Cliff Lane in 1746.
The Tollemache Brewery was founded in 1888 by three sons of 1st Baron John Tollemache. The family acquired Ipswich Brewery from Cullingham & Co. in 1880, the Essex Brewery at Walthamstow in 1920, and a controlling share of the Star Brewery in Cambridge in 1930. They gained full control of the Star Brewery in 1947.
Power is provided by means of a steam engine which was primarily responsible for pumping water up from a borehole to the top of the tower along with the barley malt. The engine was also used to power the following;
Driving the grist mill, to crush the grains of malt.
Mashing and raking equipment in the mash tun.
Pumps to raise hot green wort from the brewing copper up to the cooler.
Lifts or cranes for filled casks.
The sack hoist for loading malt. This is often in either an external wooden housing on the side of the tower building or else a protruding lucarne.
Tolly Cobbold changed hands numerous times over the following years, being purchased by Ellerman Lines in 1977, the Barclays brothers in 1983 and Brent Walker in 1989. Brent Walker announced closure of the brewery in favour of building a marina on the site with brewing transferred to Cameron's Brewery, but this was stopped by a management led buy out of the brewery for £4m supported by the Tollymache and Cobbold families. The pubs were not included in this buyout however.
The brewery's final owner was Ridley's Brewery who acquired it in 2002. Closure of the Cliff Brewery quickly followed, with Ridley's being absorbed by Greene King in 2005. They remain a major sponsor of Ipswich Town FC which was founded by the Cobbolds in 1878.
The brewery began brewing again in 1991 through what was essentially a microbrewery situated to the rear of the site. This allowed the original Victorian brewery to be used for tours which started in 1992, which provided a well needed extra revenue stream for the company until the sale of the company to Ridley's.
The old pub at the front of the site was quite cool
Excessive amount of pics to follow as usual.
Continued
