Calder Grove Brewery
In 1834 Thomas Bayldon, farmer and maltster of Hollinhirst (Netherton) rented land at Broad Cut, Calder Grove, buying the freehold in 1840 to set up a brewery and maltings. The brewery was only in production until 1857 when it was converted into a paper mill, another process that needed plenty of water, but the maltkiln continued to supply other local brewers. 1857 then saw the setting up of another brewery by Thomas Hammond, John Garthwaite and George Spawforth, the Calder Grove Brewery alongside Blacker Beck from which it drew water.
The brewery yard - it's a typical Victorian tower brewery,
Today only a few foundations remain. The brewery's closure date is uncertain but it has a listing in Whites Directory Professions & Trades of 1887 "Thomas Hammond, Brewer, Calder Grove Brewery and Victualler, British Oak, Calder Grove".
In 1870 John Garthwaite set up his own brewery in Calder Grove, The Oak Brewery, situated on Denby Dale Road on the opposite side of the road to where St John's Church was to be erected in 1893. Both breweries are recorded in White's 1887 with John Garthwaite as the Oak brewer. This was once the second largest employer in the area after the colliery and the last delivery entry in the barrel day book is recorded as 20th December 1926. Other brewing ventures by John Garthwaite are recorded for 1930 and 1936.
Oak Brewery, Calder Vale. The doorway at the right is probably the jug & bottle.
The brewery's barrel day book for Sept 6th-11th 1919 shows deliveries to Thornhill WMC, the British Oak, Navigation Inn, York St WMC, Flockton WMC, Grange Moor Club, Clayton West Club, and Netherton Club as well as many individuals: Oak Brewery also had an off-license for the jug & bottle trade.