Report - Young & Co's Ram Brewery - Wandsworth - December 2014

[Speed]

Last one of the year for me i think! Ive been looking at this brewery since it closed in 2006. Its one of those places that you just kept hoping would get derelict and would become 'doable' but in reality it only seemed to get harder! This year things finally changed when they started to redevelop the site. Most of the out buildings are now rubble which is a shame but they have retained the stable block which i believe is where they are continuing to brew from while the works happen so that that can continue the whole'continuous brewing' thing. The main brewery is having some surveying work done but not much else yet.

SO we have a classic Victorian brewery complete with coppers, fermentation tanks, malt mill and yes even its own beam engine! Then we have a modern extension with its tanks stripped and not much to see but making the place a right old rabbit warren! On top of that you have lavish offices with vaults full of paperwork, cellars and workshops full of 1970s advertising and crates of 1980s beer. Yes! if your a lover of brewery exploring this place really has it all!

All the history: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Young's

Thanks to Kevin Arnold for responding to my thread in Leads and Rumors and going and nailing it. Your advice worked but was not without its complications!!

SO how much of the epic did you spot? Unrolled party 7s? Fermentation Vessel converted to head brewers office, Upturned crate used the store oil cans in the coopers workshop, the whole coopers workshop for that matter!?? What more do you want!

 

[Speed]

Few Extras

 

[Oxygen Thief]

Damn right it's epic. This is the sort of place proper beer should be brewed in, not as they do in what is essentially a chemical mixing plant.

The converted vessel is, well, I haven't got a word because it's something I've not seen before, or could even expect.

What's the overall fate of this building going to be? Wikipedia states "As part of the redevelopment, historic buildings on the site will be retained and restored; among other things they will house a new micro-brewery and a museum of brewing history (in which the coppers and beam engine will be displayed)." Does this mean in-situ, or in some crappy new outbuilding?

 

[Speed]

In situe i believe. I dont think you could get them out very easily but you never know.

 

[Els]

Wow!

 

[The Wombat]

Well done Speed
excellent crisp photos

 

[kevin arnold]

i like it a lot!! makes much more sense to do it during the day. we missed those copper tanks in the first picture, other than that i think we've seen the same parts. looks like you were more lucky on the way out though

 

[Rik UE]

Oh my goodness, that place seems to have everything!!

What a great report thanks for sharing, lovely photographs as well.

 

[catbalou]

wow.....
thats almost unbelievable to look at. looks an absolute dream to explore.

 

[The Lone Ranger]

Stunning looking place and cracking photos

 

[Will Knot]

Mint report and pics there

 

[soylent green]

Great report and excellent photos. I Went the other night and within 15 mins of being inside, we had the Bizzies outside. We decided to walk out and as we were being searched, four other reprobates came out. I don't know who was more surprised, us or the boys in blue Good to see you guys again

 

[Derphouse]

Very nice -- I do enjoy an old brewery