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Brewhouse
The brewery that never brewed.
The brewery that never brewed.
Completed in 1831, the Brewhouse was a statement of ambition at Royal William Yard – constructed to supply up to 30,000 gallons of beer a day for the Royal Navy. Situated opposite the Factory Cooperage, it was perfectly positioned for the efficient rolling of barrels from one building to the other, with matching gate piers and identical railings echoing their interconnected roles.
Ambition meets change
Yet, in the very year the Brewhouse was finished, beer was removed as the Navy’s staple daily ration and replaced by rum, which was easier to store, lasted longer, and took up far less space on expeditions. Advances in fresh water storage also meant ships were no longer reliant on beer to keep crews hydrated on long voyages.
Despite its imposing double-height arcades, originally designed to house tall brewing vats and aid ventilation, the Brewhouse never went into full-scale beer production. Some limited brewing for hospital or infirmary use may have continued for a few years, but its original purpose was never realised on the scale intended.

Adaptation and new uses
As naval requirements evolved, so did the Brewhouse. From 1885 it was repurposed as a slaughterhouse, reflecting a shift in priorities as the need for fresh and preserved meat increased. Later, it served as extensive storage for vegetables, meat, and rum – the latter supplied via huge rum vats installed in 1928, which stayed in use until operations moved to Wrangaton depot in the 1950s.
The Brewhouse’s robust design also made it suitable for other functions: it hosted a weapons workshop in the 1930s and, from 1972, became the headquarters for No. 2 Raiding Squadron of the Royal Marines, remaining in use until the Yard’s closure in the 1990s.
Join Sidney Kneebone in the Easter of 1982 as he recalls working at the Yard during the Falklands War
September brings new voices to the yard — more recordings coming soon.
Legacy
Although it never fulfilled its original promise as a Navy brewery, the Brewhouse stands as one of Royal William Yard’s most architecturally distinctive buildings. Its arcades, ventilation structures, and vast internal spaces are a testament to grand Victorian design and the adaptability demanded by the changing needs of Britain’s fleet.
Historical Plans & Images
Image Reference
- Image 1 - Rum Barrels stored in Brewhousw Building (Royal William Yard Archive)
- Image 2 - View of Brewhouse from Main Street 1990's (Royal William Yard/ Real Ideas History Exhibition 2018)
- Image 3 - View of Brewhouse from opposite Factory Cooperage 1990's (Royal William Yard/ Real Ideas History Exhibition 2018)
- Image 4 - 6 - Sir John Rennie Plans. Brewhouse Building (National Archive)