Charrington’s Anchor Brewery
You might not give this retail park much thought, but it’s a clue to the former brewery along Mile End Road. Thankfully, if you know where to look, there are far more attractive historic reminders to be found!
History of Charrington’s Anchor Brewery
It started with a man called Robert Westfield, member of the Worshipful Company of Brewers’ who partnered with Joseph Moss in 1757 and moved into the new Anchor Brewery in Mile End. He later joined with John Charrington, the company becoming “Westfield, Moss & Charrington”.
Below is a section of the Charles Booth Poverty Map (1886-1903). The Red Dot is the rough site of the Anchor Retail Park today. Above it and to the right you can see the word ‘Brewery’
www.layersoflondon.org – Leaflet | © Maptiler and OpenStreetMap contributors
Eventually Moss and Westfield retired, with John and his brother Henry Charrington taking full ownership. From 1794-1833 Henry (known as Harry) lived along Mile End Road in Malplaquet House, more on that shortly.
By 1807 they were the second largest brewers in London and when John died, Harry’s son Nicholas joined the team.
You can see older photos of the brewery site on the Spitalfields Life website here.
In the 19th century they expanded out of London, acquiring smaller breweries until in 1962 they merged with United breweries. In 1975 the Anchor Brewery closed but offices were still in use. Piece by piece it was demolished apart from the remnants left today.
Remains of the Anchor Brewery
As mentioned before, the main brewery site is now occupied by Anchor Retail Park. However, the Brewery Offices – built 1872 – survive on the corner of Mile End Road and Cephas Avenue.
Around the corner on Cephas Avenue you will also find the 1927 extension. Like the earlier offices, these have all been converted into flats.
Not Just Offices…
As well as the huge industrial site of the brewery itself, the company also purchased land for housing. This included grand homes for the owners and more modest accommodation for the employees.
And this is where we get the aesthetic stuff. Starting with the grandest house, Harry Charrington lived in Malplaquet House.
Originally a trio of houses built in 1742 by Thomas Andrews, today only two survive; 133-135 and 137-139, known as Malplaquet House (on the right in the image above).
It looks intriguing from the street but have a look inside here – trust me, you won’t be disappointed!
Also once owned by the brewery is this charming terrace of Georgian houses at 107-113.
A fantastic example of early London terraces, it was known as Ireland’s Row after the builder; Antony Ireland. However, looks can be deceiving and only 113 is entirely authentic.
Aside from 113 (far right in the image below) all of the block had shopfronts added in the 19th century. They were then substantially – but sensitively – restored by the Spitalfields Trust in the early 1990s.
I think you’ll agree with me that Spitalfields Trust did a fantastic job. You can read more and see incredible photos of their prior state here.
A Genuinely Hidden Gem…
But the grand houses aren’t the only survivors. Behind an unassuming green door on Cleveland Way is a most unexpected surprise.
The Belle Vue Place street name is a bit of a clue, but there’s a very slim chance that you’d accidentally stumble along here. I say this with some confidence given that I actually lived on this street in 2014 and had no idea it existed!
If we return to the Charles Booth map, where the red dot is now you can see a curving street called “Belle vue P”.
www.layersoflondon.org – Leaflet | © Maptiler and OpenStreetMap contributors
Built 1825-1830 and originally in a horseshoe shape, this terrace was built as housing on land owned by the brewery.
This is what you can find behind the door…
It’s closed off at one end, the far section of the terrace was replaced by brewery sheds, so is its own private street!
So there you go, a hidden street I’ve only found now – despite previously living around the corner for a year! Just proves that discovering London’s history is a never-ending journey.
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Richard Willgoss
When Anchor Brewery closed, it is stated production moved to Canning Town. This is incorrect! The distribution of beer moved to Silvertown with the production of beer being done elsewhere in the UK – Runcorn on Merseyside for example.
Katie Wignall
Thanks Richard, will amend that!
Dougie Harley
Brilliant article!
4 generations of my family lived in the house across from Belle Vue Place – right back to when Cleveland Way was called Red Cow Lane (all be it Belle Vue was on the site of drapers workshops then). I often walk down there to try get a taste of what it was like.
Robert Kelday who’s my ancestor, owned the house, along with a lot of property on a street in Shadwell. There’s a pretty grim looking building called Kelday Heights on the land now… I like to think it’s mine but unfortunately can’t find the solid conection.
Anyhow, that’s all irrelevant… love your work! Thank you.
Mark Hemmings
Thank you for this interesting article. I worked at the Anchor Brewery for six months or so in 1971 before going to university. I remember lots of vats, sleeping in the malthouse (it was warm and had a lovely smell) and drinking in the tap house. You were allowed two pints a day but the barman was soon drunk and didn’t count. Some of the blokes almost lived in the tap house .. good memories …
John Swallow
My maternal GF , Alfred Ernest MALLINDER, ( dob 1888) took on the tennanancy from his own father ,my GGF Francis John MALLINDER, date unknown but Alfred still the tennant of No 2 until his death in 1939. He lived here at No 2 with his first wife Alice Mary POULTER and their 4 children Alice Francis, 1904., Beatrice Maud, 1905. Alfred Philip, 1907, Grace Lillian, 1910 (my mother). Alice Mary died 1912 and he then married her sister Rose in 1918 they had dau Rose 1917 (still born) Francis Philip 1921 Kia Nth Africa in 1943 as part of Long Range Desert Group (Now SAS) and Elsie Elizabeth ,1927.. In 1995 I wote to the owner and requested permission for Grace & Beatrice to visit the house just to look at the outside. She checked with Daisey living at No 3, who knew all the people I listed in my letter, and Alison then asked if more of the living relatives would like to come into the house. They did and the din of their constant chatter and mutual revaltions rang on for at least 4 hours. Grace *(dod 2011) & Beatrice Maud (dod c1989)”…I remeber our Dad putting those shutters in the cellar but they do look better reinstalled…….You see that mark on the inside of this cupboard, I put that there, asys Grace, to ward off evil spirits, actually my sister Beatrice standing beside me…..Beatrice and I used to wave to Rose from the back of Wickhams Dept store to let her know we would be home from the Tea Dance ….etc, I spent much of time from my birth in 1934 here until the MALLINDERS tennaancy expired in 1940 They bent the rules which is why they cannot be found on several Censi…another sad story and might have been the reason Rose and her 2 surviving children were put out of the house. Another sad story of Widows being disposed of on death of husband, especially as her son had enlisted in First Parashute Regiment and was already fighting in Nth Africa to save the Brewery!!!