Former Cromwell Brewery

Cadw's description

Location

On the S side of the road some 50m E of Pembroke Castle.

History

Former brewery said to have been built out of the ruins of the old Custom House by Robert George, wine merchant, in 1879-82 (but an old Customs House was being advertised for sale in 1885). The George's firm was merged with the Swansea Old Brewery 1896 and taken over by W. Hancock's in 1927. Part of the Haven Christian Centre since late C20. A trade engraving of 1893 shows the building much as at present, but large brewery chimney visible behind. The medieval doorway within appears to be on the front wall of a lost building behind, possibly indicating the much wider market place of medieval times.

Exterior

Former Cromwell Brewery, painted stucco with slate flat-eaved roof and very small brick left end stack. Large three-storey, six-bay range with stucco quoins and tooled stone plinth in large blocks. Four-pane sash windows, shorter on upper floor. Doorways with steps from street in first and fourth bays from left. The left doorway and a small tilting window to its left are not aligned with windows above. Right door has overlight. Sixth bay has very large former entry to brewery yard with giant pilasters, entablature with modillion cornice cutting across first floor right window. Doorcase is higher than required as within the ceiling is sloped down to main floor level. Two very large boarded gates with tops ramped down to centre meeting. Heavy iron hinges, iron studding and diagonally-crossed strengthening braces. Pedestrian door within one gate.
Rear of five bays has C20 square upper windows, small gable over centre one, first floor centre window, timber lintel on throughway to left, and a former cart entry to right, with brick cambered head and keystone with incised 1922 date. Lean-to to rear right in angle to long SE rear wing. This backs onto Long Entry car park, the back wall roughcast with outlines to suggest that the wall has been raised on much older original, with two corbels. The side to brewery yard is much altered with C20 windows.

Interior

Ground floor, now cafe, has two late C19 iron columns supporting an axial beam. On rear wall is a medieval pointed doorway, raised some 3' above floor level, presumably relating to a lost medieval building behind. Grey stone, chamfered. Left end wall, of rubble stone has blocked arched doorway with stone voussoirs.

Reason for designation

Included as a large later C19 former brewery of definite character in prominent position on approach to the castle.