Brewing trade’s history is toast of town

The exhibition charting the development of the John Smith’s brewery was on display yesterday as part of Tadcaster Carnival to give visitors an insight into the town’s rich brewing heritage.

It was the first time that the display had been staged and included details of brewing sites that emerged in Tadcaster from as early as 1341 and included trophies, cups, photos, old equipment and the family tree of the dynasty which formed the brewery including entrepreneur John Smith.

Artefacts on display included gold medals which were won by the brewery in the 1800s as well as a trowel that was used to 
lay the foundations of the new John Smith’s building in the 1970s.

Peter Thompson, who is the day-shift manager responsible for bottling at the brewery and has worked for the company for 38 years, helped organise the event.

Mr Thompson, 65, who lives in Tadcaster with his wife, Christine, said: “It has been an amazing turn-out. We wanted to give something back to the people of Tadcaster.

“Brewing has been such a big part of the town’s history, and this has been a great opportunity to show how the industry has developed over the years.”

Jonathan Manby, who works for the Theakston’s brewery in Masham in North Yorkshire and is one of only two coopers in the UK, staged demonstrations of the art of wooden barrel making.