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The Pontycapel Brewery was once described
as '' the most picturesque in the kingdom '', standing at the head of a
wooded valley on the banks of the River Taff . Its water supply came
from a spring called Ffynon Oer or cold well. This was some 200yds
further up the valley and its water was carried to the brewery by an
iron pipe. Power was initially provided by a water wheel .
The brewery was founded by Robert Millar , a maltster, early in the 19th
century . It was purchased from Millars trustees around 1860 by James
Pearce, a Herefordshire man. He was succeeded by his son Harry Dyke
Pearce. The property was then considerably improved. In 1871 the company
was trading as Pearce and Shapton and their offices were at 3, Victoria
Street. The manager at the brewery for some 30 years was a Mr Thomas
Morris .
Their ales were considered to be amongst the finest in the country
particularly the Star Bright XXXX Pale Ale .At the end of the century
the brewery had over 60 tied houses and a very large free trade. After
WW1 and the closure of the Cyfarthfa Iron Works trading was extremely
difficult and in 1921 it was wound up . It was then called the Cefn
Viaduct Brewery
Company but this only lasted until 1925 . Yet another company was formed
called The New Pontycapel Brewery Company but in 1930 it ceased trading
and the Rhymney Brewery took over all its public houses .
Geoff Matsell. |
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