Brewery's 150-year history in city preserved

The history of one of the West Midlands' most important businesses is being preserved for future generations.

Wolverhampton City Archives is applying for funding to create a full professional catalogue of items from Banks's Brewery.

Beer was first brewed in Newbridge in 1874, before the Park Brewery opened in the city the following year.

Among the items is a 1924 letter from a customer who credited Banks's beer with curing his indigestion, "making practically a new man of me" before ordering another cask.

The collection is from the late 19th Century through to the early 21st Century and shows how the brewery operated.

The archive includes framed certificates, film and VHS tapes and a small number of working brewery items, including a cask racking chalkboard and fermentation marking board.

The archive has not been fully catalogued and is therefore largely inaccessible to the public.

It is hoped the collection will be discovered and used by researchers, local and family historians, former employees, community groups and the wider public.

City archivist Heidi McIntosh said: "At a time when this history is still within living memory, preserving and sharing these records is vital".

"It preserves an irreplaceable record of a globally recognised Wolverhampton industry and contributes to understanding the social, cultural and industrial history of 20th Century Britain."

The project will also address basic conservation needs, including treatment of any mould-affected material.

City of Wolverhampton councillor Jeszemma Howl added: "By cataloguing and opening up this collection, Wolverhampton City Archives will ensure its long-term preservation so it can be explored by current and future generations".

"It will help keep the city's brewing history alive for Wulfrunians, and for people around the world."