Visitors to The Book Shop or West Street Post Office may well have seen for sale the new hardback Palmers – The Story of a Dorset Brewer. More than just a family history or the chronicles of a regional company, it is very much a tribute to brewing in Bridport and the two hundred year old relationship between a very British industry and its local community.
The book’s origins lie with a request by local historian, Richard Sims to research the brewery’s archives. Sims uncovered a wealth of information which was transformed into narrative by the well known author Tim Heald. The text is richly illustrated throughout with photographs, diagrams, illustrations and posters from past and present, and brought right up to date with the addition of the new range of pump clips and photos of the current staff.
The first half of the book deals with the establishment of the company on its present site at the top of West Bay road and the history of the business before it came into the ownership of the Palmer family. In 1896 brothers Cleeves and Henry Palmer purchased the brewery and four generations later John and Cleeves continue in the family tradition, as Managing Director and Sales & Marketing Director respectively.
Heald’s narrative places the brewery within a wide historical context paying particular attention to the impact of social and economic upheaval during the first half of the twentieth Century and the effect of two World Wars on both brewing and the community at large.
Throughout the book there is an emphasis placed on characters who have worked for the brewery over the years and those who still do. Of particular interest is the sign writer George Biles who for many years produced the pub-signs for the estate.
Palmers -The Story of a Dorset Brewer is available from The Book Shop South Street, Bridport Post Office and Palmers Wine Store. Copies are also available in local libraries.
