CHANCE TO SOAK UP TOWN’S HERITAGE
HISTORIC BUILDING THROWS OPEN ITS DOORS
AROUND 150 people flocked to an historic Burton landmark which was home the town’s worldfamous Bass brewing empire almost 250 years ago.
Visitors soaked up the town’s industrial heritage at Bass House, in High Street, the renowned location where brewing pioneer William Bass first started making beer.
Six free tours, each comprising 25 members of the public, were led round the site on Saturday.
The tours formed part of the National Brewery Heritage Trust’s project, Peace and Legacy: Burton Recovers, to commemorate people who worked in the town’s breweries and lost their lives during the First World War.
Along with Bass House, participants were shown round Burton Library, St Modwen’s Church, the town memorial, The Brewhouse Arts Centre and Confessions Cafe at The Trinity, in George Street.
All the locations have memorials to the First World War, with the names of brewery employees included on them.
The event was jointly organised by Vanessa Winstone, collections officer at the National Brewery Centre and volunteer, Malcolm Goode. Mr Goode praised the turnout and interest in the tours, and revealed that they were so popular that some people had to be turned away.
He said: We had six full tours and the feedback was really encouraging. Everyone seemingly really enjoyed the experience with us. We were very happy.
“We had six full tours of 25 people on each tour. I wasn’t sure we would get significant interest but we did. In the end we had to turn people away.
“We had to limit the number of people on each tour due to health and safety.”
Mr Goode said organisers were now looking to the future, with 2019 marking 80 years since the start of the Second World War, and a possible similar event on the cards.
The trust received £10,000 to pay for the scheme with £8,300 from the Heritage Lottery Fund, with the rest provided by East Staffordshire Borough Council and other companies.