LOCAL AUTHORS DEVON COU NTRY TOW N BREWER PUBLIC HOU S AND SES - TAVISTO CK 1752 TO 2020
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TRY TOW history looks UN at how from the eighteenth century the PU S BLIC HOU good oldfashioned, licensed victualler of a bygone age was slowly replaced by common brewers brewing in bulk for sale to public houses. It chronicles the life and times of the innkeepers and steps inside the doors of some wonderfully named pubs that are no more, such as the Hare and Hounds and the Three Compasses. It considers how Tavistock’s brewers had to fight off competition from Plymouth and Cornwall, the temperance lobby and the sometimes unwelcome involvement of local magistrates and Dukes of Bedford. TAV ISTOC
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Raising the bar on Tavistock’s pub history
From the eighteenth century replaced by common brewers, on brewing victualler on-premises s in England brewing in consumption were gradually Tavistock’s or, in some bulk for sale to public first cases, for houses some 60 years common brewery was establish off-sales for home licensed for in the 1860s. later, these brewerie consumption. ed in 1798 s supplyin with a second fiscal control Breweries and public g some 33 public houses following houses have and some 87 different entrepreneurial at the peak opportunity ever been the butt ly named of licensing and present day, laws, at the same public houses and two this book traces the from other time looking common brewers rise and fall of breweries at the commerc from 1752 in neighbou the influence to the ial opportun ring Plymouth of the House ities , Cornwall of Bedford. and elsewher and threats e and also at
The book has been funded jointly by Tavistock Heritage Trust and Tavistock Local History Society, and traces the history of Tavistock’s ‘locals’ and how they evolved from coaching inns, humble alehouses and back street tap houses to today’s 21st century hostelries and gastro pubs. This fascinating
ALEX METT LER
Local historian Alex Mettler has been visiting the pubs of Tavistock for decades, all in the cause of historical research, more than occasionally accompanied by a pint of the local brew. Those academic and liquid fuelled forays haven’t been in vain as Alex has just published his magnum opus - Devon Country Town Brewers & Public Houses: Tavistock 1752-2020, a 548-page labour of love which tracks the rise and fall of 87 public houses and two common brewers in the parish, from the mid-18th century to the present day.
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Said Alex: “Now the book is finished I will not be calling last orders on my research trips. As every good historian knows, there are always new avenues to explore and new brews to sample.” The book is available at Guildhall Visitor Information Centre, Book Stop, Tavistock Heritage Trust and Tavistock Local History Society. Softback £24.99, hardback £34.99
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