PERSONAL FILE Elizabeth Pease

Elizabeth Pease is the only woman known to have worked as a brewer at Temple Newsam. She was employed sporadically over a period of at least 30 years, spanning 1728 to 1758. Although it is difficult to be certain, she is probably the Elizabeth Pease recorded as born in the parish of St Peter in Leeds, on 25 August 1704.

Payments to Elizabeth first appear in a bill dated 19 February 1728 when, aged 23, she was paid 14s for seven “brewings” and 11s for “bottles washing 4 times”. Like many workers, she was illiterate and signed her receipts with a cross. Elizabeth brewed a variety of drinks for the house, including ale, strong beer, table beer and small beer.

Elizabeth’s last known bill is dated 1759 for work the previous year. This probably involved brewing an important batch of ale and small beer to celebrate the arrival of two newlyweds, Frances and Charles Ingram, in August 1758.