Brewing giants were bred in the borough
THREE of the biggest names in brewing have Hinckley and Bosworth connections, research has revealed.
William Bass, William Butler and William Worthington all have close links with the area, which will celebrate with a special exhibition, a pub trail and the installation of blue plaques to honour the industry giants who hailed from Hinckley and Bosworth.
The borough’s branch of Camra (Campaign for Real Ale) is leading the Three Brewers celebrations in partnership with Hinckley and District Museum throughout 2017, the 300th anniversary of Bass’s birth.
Although his actual birthplace is uncertain, Bass (1717-1787) was the son of another William Bass who had a smallholding in Hinckley and lived in Castle Street.
William Butler (18431907) was born in a cottage in New Buildings in the town and William Worthington (1722-1800) was born to a farming family in Orton on the Hill.
An exhibition called All Hail The Ale commemorating the trio’s achievements has opened at the town’s museum on Lower Bond Street and will run until the end of October featuring memorabilia and original artefacts.
Blue plaques honouring Bass and Butler will be unveiled in Hinckley town centre on June 3.
Another to Worthington will be unveiled in Orton on the Hill on August 22.
A Bass pubs trail will run from July 24 to September 8 and plans for a Three Brewers Party in a Hinckley pub are in the pipeline.
Organisers are hoping that Hinckleyans will get behind the celebrations and be proud of the borough’s associations with what have become globally recognised brands which remain to this day.
Camra branch secretary and chairman of the Three Brewers committee Richard Lewin said: “All three became world class brewers and their business empires grew to include the world’s largest brewery.
“Bass was the greatest of the three.
“His family brewed beer in Hinckley and ran or owned pubs in the town.
“If it hadn’t been for Burton having better transport links, Hinckley might have ended up with the biggest brewery in the world.”
A coach trip to the National Brewing Centre and Heritage Brewery at Burton on Trent has been organised for August 5.
Among the documents and images reflecting Bass’s international standing is a famous painting by Edouard Manet called A Bar at the Folies-Bergère (1882).
A closer look at the familiar image reveals the distinctive red triangle trademark on two of the bottles on the counter.
The work indicates the sale of Bass’s pale ale at the legendary Paris music hall.