hello again
An even older inn, the White Bull, mentioned in 1642, was incorporated into the Golden Falcon in 1752. Assembly records show that a Row at the Hope and Anchor, four doors down from the Falcon, was enclosed in the early eighteenth century. By 1772, this former Row had become a vinegar manufactory until George Eaton bought and eventually demolished all the properties on the site to build his brewery. His son, Peter Eaton expanded the business, altered the stables to take more fermenting vessels and sunk a 33 metre well. In 1849, he was given notice by the council to control the smoke coming from his furnaces. He served as Mayor of Chester in 1856-7.
We have been informed that, around 1973- long after its demolition- the sitting room from the Golden Falcon was re-erected in the beautiful Ness Gardens on the Wirral. It is said to be an interesting structure, roughly circular,which stands approximately 2-2.5 metres tall. Where the old stones had lain during the intervening years is anyone's guess..
Eaton's Brewery eventually took over the Kelsterton and St. Winnifred's (Holywell) breweries and the company was bought out in 1864 by Henry Ford, Frederic Gunton and William Kelly, who formed the Northgate Brewing Company in 1889. They had 'bottling stores, wine and spirit vaults' at 7, Foregate Street and malt kilns on the east side of Lower Bridge Street and owned pubs throughout Cheshire and North Wales.
An advertisment in the Cheshire Observer of May 1882 stated "Northgate Brewery: March brewings of pale and mild ales and porter from one shilling per gallon". If only...
The brewery was again taken over, in 1949, by Warrington-based Greenhall Whitley, who closed it down twenty years later and the buildings were demolished.
Archaeological investigation of the brewery site conducted in the early 1970s revealed evidence of Roman rampart buildings, an intervallum road that ran inside the wall and the foundations of barrack blocks.
Also uncovered were many cellars and foundations dating from the14th to the 19th centuries. Should you wander round to the main entrance of Centurion House, via Fireman's Square, you will see set into the pavement the attractive mosaic design- shown here- that was formerly set in the old brewery office doorway in Northgate Street.
hope this helps
s.g.d.
