Wigan Album
John Sumner Haigh Brewery
3 CommentsPhoto: RON HUNT
Item #: 30045
Ron, I was recently reading a interesting article about the brewery. The building dated from 1873 and was demolished in the early 1950s. As children from Crawford Avenue we would walk up Haigh and I can remember just prior to demolition seeing this building and then wondering where it had gone !. I think that John Sumner actually started brewing circa 1820 in cellars below the Balcarres Arms. Water for the brewery was provided by the windmill just down the road in Copperas Lane, still there today and there was a tank holding thousands of gallons for the brewery's use. John's young son was killed at the age of 11 years whilst working for his father. Greenalls took over from Sumners and that was the end of this little piece of history, of course, Culraven Garage acquired the site.
Interesting story JJP. It was in the early 1930's when Greenalls took over.
Another legacy of the brewery is the reservoir in the fields off Riley Lane, Haigh. Known as the Brewery Lodge, the farmer rents it out to Blackrod Victoria Angling Club. I've fished it many times in the past.