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Farndon Village Buildings
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The Brewery
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The Brewery
The buildings were then utilised for agricultural purposes, while a house was added, probably also during the late-eighteenth century which was then under the ownership of the Parker family.
In 1843, Robert Salmon, from a farming family in Huntingdon, relocated to Farndon, the home of his wife Hannah, and moved into the Parker house on Churton Road. Over the next few years they added out-buildings and developed the site as a brewery.
Robert was an experienced maltster, but took on William Hassale, a malster from Ellesmere in Shropshire, who worked at the brewery for two decades until the passing of his employer.
Robert became a respected member of the village and sat on the parish council. In the 1870s he stepped back from the day-to-day running of the brewery, instead concentrating on their 104 acre farm where he employed four men. His wife Hannah died in 1881, aged 71, and Robert apassed just two years later on 7 June 1883 aged seventy-five. They were laid to rest in St Chad's churchyard.
Robert was succeeded by his son Joseph, who was born in Huntingdon on 21 September 1938, before their move to Farndon. Joseph had taken over the running of the brewery during the 1870s, while his father managed the farm. Joseph now had a family of his own, but tragically his wife Hannah died at the young age of thirty-four on 8 Jan 1884. The following year he married again, on 4 Feb 1885 in St Giles, Wrexham, to Sarah Elizabeth Harrison aged 36, with whom he had four more children. Sarah also passed away at a young age on 28 April 1893 aged just forty-three.
In the late 1890s, Joseph Salmon sold the brewery, together with leases on ten public houses to the Lion Brewery Company of Chester, while he looked after the day to day running of the family farm.
Joseph died in 1907, aged 68, by which time brewing had ceased all operations.
Extract of Farndon Tenement Map of 1735
Churton Road was then known as Windmill Lane, and the fields facing the tithebarn as Windmill Flatts. The windmill is presumably the circular shape in the field marked PE to the bottom right. This is highish ground, faces the prevailing wind, and appears to be the site now occupied by the Barnston Memorial. At that time the map shows that extensive areas between Farndon and Churton were still not enclosed. These were farmed in small strips varying in size from about a quarter to two acres; one person having various strips in several places. One small croft at the bottom of the cliff by the river and close to the Church is still called the Vineyard as it was in the eighteenth century. By 1841 all the strips had been enclosed; mostly by the large landowners. |
Tithe Map 1840 (plot 36)
Tithe Map 1840 plot and detail
1861 Census - Robert Salmon and family at The Brewery
1891 Census - Joseph Salmon and family at The Brewery
Map of 1897
1901 Census - Joseph Salmon and family at The Brewery
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DEATH OF MR JOSEPH SALMON We regret to learn of the death, which occurred on Friday, of Mr. Joseph Salmon, of Farndon, who was well known, particularly among the agriculturists in Chester and district. Mr. Salmon was formerly a brewer at Farndon. He sold his licensed houses to a Brewery company and devoted himself to agriculture, living on his own farm of about 100 acres. He was a man held in high esteem among his neighbours, and respected by the very large number of people who knew him. Mr. Salmon was a considerable employer of labour in the district, and was a kind master. Many a good cause will miss a friend in Mr. Salmon. He took an interest in local government and was chairman of the Farndon Parish Council Tho deceased was nearly 70 years of age, was twice married, and leaves a family for whom sympathy is felt. He was a brother of Mr. Thomas Salmon, of Cheveley, who died recently. Deceased was a fearless and skilful rider, and was a frequent follower of the hounds. He was also at one time a well-known cricketer, being associated with the Eaton Park Club. The Chester Courant and Advertiser for North Wales, 6 March 1907 THE LATE MR JOS. SALMON THE FUNERAL As was recorded in the Saturday Evening Edition of the Observer, Mr. Joseph Salmon, The Brewery, Farndon, died on Friday afternoon, after a very short illness. Deceased was in unusually good spirits on Thursday, and, after a hearty dinner, went to watch his men work in the yard. About three o'clock, however, he was seized with internal pains, and Dr B. Parker and Haygate, of Farndon, were called. His condition became worse, so Dr. Henry Dobie, of Chester, was sent for, but it was of no avail, for he succumbed to hemorrhage and heart failure. The deceased was born at Huntingdon, near Chester, on the 21st September, 1838, and was 68 years old. His father removed from Huntingdon and settled in Farndon in 1843, and had a good brewery connection, to which his son succeeded him. While in that trade, he was famous for his assiduity to busineas and upright, dealing, making many life-long friends in the district. A few years ago he sold his brewery business and several public-houses which belonged to him, to the Lion Brewery Company, Chester, and devoted his time to agriculture. He was a true sportsman, fond of horses and hunting, and in his younger days gained a well- deserved reputation as a cricketer. In politics he was an ardent Conservative and an earnest supporter of his party. He held several offices in the district, including those of chairman of Farndon Parish Council, a manager of the National School, and treasurer of the Farndon Ladies' Club. He was exceedingly generous, and will be missed by a large number of sorrowing friends, the poor in particular always receiving his kindly sympathy and help. At the parish meeting on Saturday evening, a vote of condolence was passed to the bereaved family. The deceased gentleman, who was a widower, leaves six children, four daughters and two sons, for whom great sympathy is felt in their sudden and irreparable bereavement. After a life which had been spent to the good of the public, it was befitting that the interment should be of a public character. The funeral took place at 12 o'clock noon on Tuesday. The coffin was conveyed from the house to the church by his workmen, Messrs. J. Thomas, Joseph Thornton, Peter Price and Ellis Hughes. Owing to the illness of the rector, the Rev. L. E. Owen, the service was conducted by his brother, and a muffled peal of bells, was rung in the evening. The chief mourners included Messrs. Joseph R. H. and Thomas Salmon (sons), Messrs. Robert W. and Thomas H. Boden and Robert, Salmon (nephews), Messrs. W. Parker, Richard R. and Joseph Salmon (Rowton), Thomas H. Parker (Tarvin), and N. Parker (cousins), and Mr. John Fletcher (son-in-law). Other mourners were Colonel Barnston, Mr. Harry Barnston (Crewe Hill), Dr. Henry Dobie, Messrs. R. G. and L. Parry (Chester), Mr. Lowe (Farndon), Mr. T. Briscoe (Bangor-lsycocd), Messrs. T. Lewie (Barton), T. Jones (Farndon), Wm. Jackston (Hatton Lodge), G. Handing (Belmont House), Llew. Rogers (Wrexham), Andrew McKindley (Churton), W. E. Tapiin (Chester), W. Astle (Waverton), W. McCreadie (Farndon), E. Williamson (Churton), F. Parker (Farndon), Fred Grange, James Dickon, E. Eyton, Thomas Powdrill, Grindley Lee (Broxton), Stretton, and Charles Candeland, etc. The managers of the Farndon National School were represented by Mr. Harry Barnston, Mr. T. Brereton, the Rev. L. M. Davies, and Mr. A. Lowe. The Farndon branch of the Victoria Club Shepherds' Lodge by Messrs. Tom Jones, James Carr, Sam Prickling, W. Smith, George Price, Henry Payne, George Barlow, James Walker, H. Clubb, George Hughes, James Taylor and George Walker. Wreaths were sent by "His children at The Brewery and Birkenhead," "Fred and Sarah," "Robert, Kathleen, and little ones," "Eliza," "Mary and Joe," "the workmen The Brewery," "Kate and Eli Pugh," "Bessie and Annie at The Brewery," "Mr. and Mrs. McKindley," "Mr McCreadie and family", "Mr. and Mrs. Edge," "Noah and Maria," Miss Lightfoot, his sister, nieces and nephews at Saighton Lodge, Wm. Percival, Mr. Harding, servants at Belmont House, Mr. and Mrs. Dicken and family, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Lloyd (Eyton House), S. Dicken, Mr. Grange and family, Mrs. A. Fowles and family. R. R. Salmon and family, L. E. Owen, "Mabel and Llew" (Wrexham), W. E. Astle and family, W. E. and Misa Taplin, Mr. W. Parker and family (Roden's Hall), Mr. A. Lowe, W. Jackson (Hatton Lodge), Mr. and Mrs. Jones (Rose Villa), Mr. and Mrs. Gauterin, Mr. F. Parker, Mr. Tom Sergison, Mr. Harry Clubb (Churton), Mr. George Clubb (Churton), etc. The Chester Courant and Advertiser for North Wales, 9 March 1907 |
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The Beloved wife of Robert Salmon of Farndon Who departed this life Nov 10th 1881 Aged 71 years Robert Salmon Who departed this life June 7th 1883 Aged 75 years |
The Beloved wife of Joseph Salmon who Died 8 Jan 1884 Aged 34 years Sarah Elizabeth Salmon Devoted wife of Joseph Salmon Died 28 Apr 1893 Aged 43 Joseph Salmon Died March 1907 Aged 68 years |
Salmon family resting places and memorials, St Chad's Churchyard, Farndon
1911 Census - The family of Joseph R Salmon jnr |
The brewery business now sold, Joseph R. Salmon jnr did not have an interest in running the farm, and by 1911 was working as an engineer and architect, while his younger brother Thomas was training as an auctioneer. On 3 February 1913, Joseph married Agnes Brown at St.Matthew's Bootle. Later they moved into a flat close to the Mersey shore in Wallasey. Consequently, The Brewery was sold in 1913, the purchasers being George Lowe and family. By 1939, the residents were Maxwell Pardoe, a haulage contractor, and John Hopley-Jones, a salesman of dairy machinery.
After the war it was sold to the Pinningtons, while from 1954 the Nicholas family resided there until the 1970s. Mrs. M. Nicholas recalled that on humid days she could often smell the scent of malt which had saturated the sandstone. During the fifties, The Old Brewery became a garage, run by G. and D. Taylor (Aldford) Ltd from 1956. During the 1970s, the Gittins family moved into the residential property, but during their time there they were faced with problems of subsidence to the road outside, caused by the cellars which extended under Churton Road. In 1974 they were filled in to prevent further undermining (pictured below). Today, now known as Brewery Motors, the garage has been run as a family business for many years by John Pinnington, who has also renovated the residential buildings. |
The 1939 Census shows
The 1939 Census - Joseph Salmon jnr living at 35a Caithness Avenue, Wallasey, 
Tony Gittens in the Brewery House cellar under the Churton Road in 1974
Cellar of Brewery House running under Churton Road in 1974
The Brewery in the 1980s
The Brewery in 2007
The Brewery in 2007
The Brewery in 2007
Modern map of The Brewery
Close up modern map of The Brewery
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The Brewery 2021
The Brewery 2022
Brewery Motors today
On the wall in the garage office
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The plot upon which the present Brewery Motors stands was once the site of the village tithe barn, a site that is likely to date back to the medieval period. The tithebarn is shown on the 1735 estate map, although this is likely to have been post-medieval in origin, and the present brewery building has been converted from some of the original structure. Typical of other early Farndon buildings, the structure is sandstone resourced locally. Its use as a tithebarn had ceased most likely in the eighteenth century once its purpose was no longer required. The outdated tithe system was finally dispensed with by the Tithe Commutation Act of 1836 (6&7 Will. IV, c.71), which allowed payment of tithes in kind to be substituted by money payments.