Murphy's Factory, Old Basford - formerly the Prince of Wales Brewery

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Murphy's Factory, Old Basford - formerly the Prince of Wales Brewery

Reproduced from 'Basford Bystander' Issue 22 (September-October 1988)

The Nottingham Civic Society has for the last few years organised a 'Mark of the Month' scheme to commend in a modest way significant attempts by architects, planners, developers, etc to improve our environment. These awards take the form of a signed certificate neatly framed and listing the property concerned, the architect or planner involved, and the client. One award goes to the architect and one to the client; if requested, a third certificate can be given to the contractor or craftsman engaged in the work.

In November 1986, a Mark of the Month Commendation was awarded to the Sutherland Craig Partnership and their clients Murphy & Son Ltd for the renovation of the Alpine Works, Alpine Street, Basford. The Alpine Works were built as the Prince of Wales Brewery for W H Hutchinson & Sons Ltd. The buildings were designed by William Bradford of Carlton Chambers, Regent Street, London. The plans were submitted for approval on 1 April 1891 by the Nottingham builders Dennett & Ingle. Bradford would appear to have been at least a partial specialist in brewery work for his name crops up more than once in the planning applications for extensions and additions at James Shipstone & Sons' Star Brewery.

Henry Hutchinson, possibly the father of William Henry, is listed as a brewer of Church Street, Old Basford, in 1874. By 1876, Kelly's Directory gives William Henry Hutchinson, Brewer, Prince of Wales Brewery, Hill Street (Alpine Street c.1880). This is the brewery marked on the 1881 Ordnance Survey map and later replaced. Hutchinson's Brewery was bought by the Home Brewery Company Limited in 1916 and vacated by them c.1920. The buildings were sold to Murphy in 1921 who renamed them the Old Basford Mills. Murphy & Son Ltd supply chemicals to industry, including the brewing industry, and the garden trade.

The recent renovation was a major improvement scheme which involved a modernisation of the internal layout and working facilities. A grant of £48,000 from the Inner Area Programme for industrial development helped with the overall cost of around £200,000. A further development programme has been suggested whereby two industrial units could be fashioned out of the old stable block and a third unit housed in a purpose-built block located in adequate space at the rear. Car parking is often a problem but here, if required, up to 50 spaces could be provided.

Several months ago, the rather prominent chimney on the edge of the front facade was found to be unstable if not plain dangerous. After a brief but sharp exchange of words between the company, who would welcome the chimney's removal, and the City Planning Department, who see the chimney as a key feature of the Basford skyline, an uneasy peace currently exists. Either way, the present collar scaffolding hardly enhances this fine example of late Victorian industrial building.

The present 'Works' are well sited on the brow of a hill where Alpine Street changes to Percy Street, and while impressive from a distance, closer examination reveals some fine architectural detailing in brick, terra cotta and timber. The Prince of Wales Feathers in decorative brickwork on the boiler house gable is a particularly striking motif which was repeated on an ornate weather vane. The fact that a planner once asked me if the architect for the brewery was Watson Fothergill gives some indication of the quality of this splendid specimen of nineteenth century craftsmanship.

It is possible that William Vallence Betts, then a newly qualified architect living close to the brewery, was engaged to supervise building work. Betts, earlier and later in 1897-1898, was the architect of a stable block and other outbuildings at the brewery. His name has appeared before in the 'Basford Bystander' for he was involved with building work for the Cinderhill Co-operative Society. In fact, Betts worked widely in what might be called the greater Basford area in the first three decades of this century. In addition, he appears to have been for some time the principal architect working for the Nottingham Co-operative Society. The bulk of the main store on Parliament Street, much of the initial work at the large Co-op depot at Meadow Lane and many suburban branch stores, were designed in Betts' office.