Brewhouse

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.

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.

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.