One of Wiltshire’s best-known breweries is to be commemorated next month with a heritage open day to which former employees have been invited.
The event to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the formation of Ushers Brewery in Trowbridge in 1824 will take place on the country’s national Heritage Open Day.
It is being held on Saturday, September 7 at the Grade 1 listed Parade House in Trowbridge which was once used as the Ushers Brewery head office.
The owners of Parade House, Simon and Carey Tesler, said: “Parade House will be open to the public free of charge, celebrating 200 years of history of one of the most important former businesses and landmarks in the County Town of Wiltshire.
“This will be a hugely important event for Trowbridge and for Wiltshire. Ushers was one of the biggest local employers for most of the 20th century, and this event will mark a major date for the county calendar.
The event will be opened by Trowbridge Town Crier Trevor Heeks and Trowbridge Mayor Cllr Stephen Cooper.
It is being supported by Newland Homes who have regenerated the former Ushers Brewery sites behind Parade House.
The Heritage Open Day will feature an exclusive exhibition of Ushers memorabilia supplied by the public and Trowbridge Museum, as well as recently discovered archive photographs.
A specially commissioned documentary film featuring interviews with former Ushers employees will be screened in the Parade House cinema, and its Ushers Bar in the historic vaults will be open for refreshments.
There will talks by former Ushers employees in the ballroom, and a live valuation of vintage Ushers memorabilia by “Flog It” TV celebrity presenter Paul Martin of Henry Aldridge & Son Auctioneers in Devizes.
Outside, an old 1946 Ushers lorry containing original keg barrels will be stationed in the Parade House forecourt.
Local independent brewer Kettlesmith from Bradford on Avon will be serving a special Ushers 2024 Ale in a pop-up beer garden with outdoor seating, with live music throughout the day.
The festivities will conclude with a VIP ticketed drinks reception in the grand Ballroom from 5pm to 7pm for former Ushers employees to reconnect.
Ushers finally closed its doors in 2001 and soon after the entire brewery was sold and dismantled to be shipped off to North Korea.
A version of Ushers’ beer is still brewed today at the Taedonggang Brewing Company's brewery in North Korea’s capital Pyongyang.
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