Explored in the excellent company of UrbanX, Alex76 and Chris34. I have to say our hearts sank after finding access to the site easy enough we were greeted by every security measure known to man and lots of recent boarding. We decided after the success of Mitchell Grieves the least we should do is give it a good look to try access "Whats the worst that can happen?"
We walked the entire site and just as we felt we had run into a dead end, there infront of us was the only solitary light at the end of the tunnel and the way in.
The History
The Kimberley Brewery was established and operated by brewer Hardys & Hansons, and has a heritage dating from 1832. It was the oldest independent brewery in Nottinghamshire.
Samuel Robinson opened the first commercial brewery in Kimberley, Nottinghamshire, England in a rented bake-house using water from the Alley Spring in what is now called Hardy Street. Meanwhile Stephen Hanson built his Hansons Limited on Brewery Street in 1847, also using water from the same spring.
William & Thomas Hardy were successful beer merchants from Heanor who bought the brewery from Samuel Robinson in 1857. Kimberley brewery is still largely based on the buildings they erected way back in 1861 after they had moved out of the old bake-house.
In 1861, Stephen Hanson passed away and the business was driven forward by his wife Mary and son Robert Hanson. The rivalry between the two brewing companies was a friendly one and both bought up pubs throughout the area to supply with their ales to.With the spring water running low, the companies struck a deal to share the Holly Well Spring.
In 1930 with larger brewing companies exerting pressure on the independant breweries and Hardy having a lack of male successors the two companies merged and continued to share the same excellent Holly Well spring supply.
In 2006, The Hardys & Hansons Kimberley Brewery and all of its public houses were sold in a multi-million pound deal to Greene King brewery, who too the decision to end the brewing tradition in Kimberley citing it as "a cost effective move". The site is currently up for sale or let with its distribution centre moving to Eastwood and brewing switching to the main Greene King site at Bury St Edmunds.
The Pics
Externals
Basement Area's
The Well
Other Floors
Couple of Self Photos
Thanks for looking
We walked the entire site and just as we felt we had run into a dead end, there infront of us was the only solitary light at the end of the tunnel and the way in.
The History
The Kimberley Brewery was established and operated by brewer Hardys & Hansons, and has a heritage dating from 1832. It was the oldest independent brewery in Nottinghamshire.
Samuel Robinson opened the first commercial brewery in Kimberley, Nottinghamshire, England in a rented bake-house using water from the Alley Spring in what is now called Hardy Street. Meanwhile Stephen Hanson built his Hansons Limited on Brewery Street in 1847, also using water from the same spring.
William & Thomas Hardy were successful beer merchants from Heanor who bought the brewery from Samuel Robinson in 1857. Kimberley brewery is still largely based on the buildings they erected way back in 1861 after they had moved out of the old bake-house.
In 1861, Stephen Hanson passed away and the business was driven forward by his wife Mary and son Robert Hanson. The rivalry between the two brewing companies was a friendly one and both bought up pubs throughout the area to supply with their ales to.With the spring water running low, the companies struck a deal to share the Holly Well Spring.
In 1930 with larger brewing companies exerting pressure on the independant breweries and Hardy having a lack of male successors the two companies merged and continued to share the same excellent Holly Well spring supply.
In 2006, The Hardys & Hansons Kimberley Brewery and all of its public houses were sold in a multi-million pound deal to Greene King brewery, who too the decision to end the brewing tradition in Kimberley citing it as "a cost effective move". The site is currently up for sale or let with its distribution centre moving to Eastwood and brewing switching to the main Greene King site at Bury St Edmunds.
The Pics
Externals
Basement Area's
The Well
Other Floors
Couple of Self Photos
Thanks for looking
