Page 29 - link magazine

Swindon Wide

The programme of events to mark photography and iPad interaction Hatch of Swindon
Swindon’s 175th anniversary year by Create Studios celebrating the company Hatch
is growing. Below are those which shared experience and aspirations of Heritage & Steam
have been confirmed with more to people of Swindon in the 175 year. Engineers using the
follow. See more at www.createstudios.org original GWR plans.
11 February: Digital Journeys, a 25 February: Primary schools across 1 to 10 April: 3rd
digital arts exhibition including film, the town have been invited to hold Swindon Fringe
an assembly to mark the day in Festival, theatre
1841 when the plans drawn up by and arts with a 175
Daniel Gooch were approved by the theme.
Great Western Railway Company, 2 June to 5 July: Swindon Arts 23 June: Capture Swindon in
thus heralding the expansion of Trail at a host of venues displaying Pictures on the 175th day of the
Swindon. A tree will be planted in ceramics, textile art, a new year. A photography challenge for
GWR Park off Faringdon Road. community mural, fine art drawing children and students in the town..
22 March: Create Studios mini- and painting which reflect the 9 & 10 July: Brunel the Opera: The
Digital Journey exhibition until 11 industrial and urban heritage of the Little Man in the Tall Hat at Steam.
April. town, as well as the open space in Janice Thompson Performance Trust
24 March: An event at Steam to and around Swindon. reprises the opera staged in 2006
mark the anniversary of the closure 11 June midday to 10pm: which celebrated the birth of IK
of Swindon railway works on 26 Celebrating the 150th anniversary Brunel in 1806.
March 1986 which will include, of the Swindon Mechanics’s 27 November: Swindon Symphony
on 26 March at 4.30pm, the first Institution Children’s Fete in GWR Orchestra concert at Steam.
The Hatch hooter to blow on official sounding of a replica of Park. Organised by the Mechanics’ See more details of these events
26 March the Swindon Hooter built by Colin Institution Trust at www.swindon175.com

The pint-sized story of Arkell’s Brewery

During the Swindon 175th anniversary year, the Link is looking at some of the key businesses in the town,
including Arkells which has grown in tandem with the town, writes Nicky Godding
At 173 years old, Arkell’s Brewery is grown.
one of just a few family breweries The Arkell’s family still works at
left in the UK. the brewery, alongside generations
The beer is still brewed in much of other local families, brewing real
the same way as it was when John ale and looking after over 100 pubs
Arkell first began the process in across Wiltshire, Gloucestershire,
1843 and the brewery buildings Oxfordshire, Berkshire and
seem untouched by the passing Hampshire. The business believes
years. ongoing investment in its pubs is
But Arkell’s has not achieved its essential to maintain standards and
unique position as Swindon’s oldest provide customers with the warm
company and one of the oldest welcome they expect. Over half its
traditional breweries still operating conditions endured by agricultural pubs as well as his own Kingsdown pubs now offer accommodation.
in Britain today, by standing still. It folk at that time. It was a brave Inn, which he had also bought. James Arkell is chairman and his
invests in staff, equipment and pubs, step. They arrived in Canada and His timing was perfect. Isambard oldest son George is managing
and most importantly the beer itself. established the small community of Kingdom Brunel had just chosen director. George’s brother, Alex, took
Brewhouse investment in 2015 Arkell, which still exists today. John Swindon as the site of his works on over as head brewer in 2012.
included a new specially designed returned three years later to marry. the Great Western Railway because Since then, the brewery has
£18,000 racking machine which He set up home at Stratton St of its equidistance between London boosted its haul of awards from
enables the barrels to be filled more Margaret where he grew barley and Bristol. The once sleepy rural the Society of Independent Brewers
gently, with less wastage and less on his farm. It was a natural step market town rapildy developed (SIBA) to the World Beer Awards
oxygen pickup and a new £28,000 to turn to brewing beer, which, at into a bustling industrial centre and Taste of the West.
labelling machine to support an that time, was commonly produced and Arkell’s beers helped quench Arkell’s regular ales include
increase in demand for bottled by many pubs and in many more the thirst of workers in the hot Wiltshire Gold, 3Bs and Bees
beers. private homes. environment of the railway works. Organic. The brewery also brews an
It also runs the Arkell’s Academy in But it took John’s foresight to The historic railway works closed award-winning lager: 1843.
conjunction with Swindon College, realize the potential market for down in the 1980s, but Arkell’s Special ales are brewed regularly,
offering local training on nationally supplying beer to a string of other Brewery has both survived and keeping the art of craft ale alive
recognised hospitality qualifications. and offering drinkers new tastes and
The brewery was established flavours. Later this year a special
as an offshoot to the family farm Swindon 175 brew will be available.
near Swindon when Isambard “Beer drinking is changing,”
Kingdom Brunel was building the comments head brewer Alex Arkell.
Great Western Railway locomotive “I’m always trying out new flavours
works. Founder, John Arkell was born and tastes when I go to the pub,
into a farming family in 1802 in as well as continuing to drink my
Kempsford. regular favourites. It’s a bit like
He emigrated to the New World having a beer with your best friend
in his late twenties and took after being out with some new
with him a group of local people mates.”
seeking new lives from the tough Carrying on a family brewing tradition, Alex Arkell, left, and George Arkell www.arkells.com

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