Beers, Boats and Boozers, No.91

We had a good wander around Whittelesey that has some impressive buildings

There is a large market square and there has been a right to hold a market here since 1715, and it has only been missing a few times in that history. In the centre is the Buttercross that was built in 1680. It was where dairy products were sold, under cover. In the 1800's it became very run down and was going to be demolished until a local businessman donated enough Collyweston stone tiles to repair it. Since then it has been a bus stop, until the buses routes were altered, and is now a shelter for pedestrians.

This was the Town Hall with the fire station below and was built in 1825. There is a date in red brick on the front but this is the date that extensive alterations took place. The business is now owned by the Whittelesy Charity and house the museum, unfortunately closed when we were wandering about in the evening. We love a little local museum.

The skies looked a little threatening as we walked down London Road that has some very nice houses. In tne distance you can see the Falcon Inn that is probably 18th Century with later additions. On the wall of the pub is one of those spoked wheel signs with CTC that indicate that accommodation was approved for Cyclist Touring Club members. Next to the pub is Paradise Lane which from leading you to Eden, led in days of old to the local cesspit!

The Whittelsey War Memorial has Saint George with his sword and his foot placed on the beaten dragon, very symbolic and also very well maintained.

Whittelsey is proud of, and famous for, the Straw Bear Festival. This is my be a corruption of straw bower. It took place traditionally on Plough Tuesday. This is the day after the first Monday after Twelfth Night! A man is dressed in straw and along with a keeper, paraded around the town dancing and begging for gifts at houses etc. The costume would be ceremonially burned the following day. The custom died out in the early 1900's, maybe thought of as begging, but was revived in 1980 by the Whittelesy Society. The parade now happened accompanied musicians and traditional dancers. Concerts are held in the pubs and a barn dance or a ceilidh are also held. The tradition now takes place on the second weekend in January.

Off the Market Square is the George Hotel, with St. Mary's Church in the background. The hotel was built in the late 18th Century and was much altered in the mid 19th. On the left hand end was even more of the Grade II listed building but when Station Road was widened they took away a shop and the coach entrance to the rear. The place is now a Weatherspoon's and has acres of space in several little rooms, now interconnected. 

I tried a pint from Redemption Brewery. They are based in Tottenham, North London and have been brewing since 2010. Andy Moffat and Sam Rigby started out with a 12 barrel plant but soon need to expand into a 30 barrel set up. They aim to create modern beers that are a twist on the traditional but with no compromise with ingredients.

I had a pint of their Hopspur, 4.5%. With a name like that I was expecting a very fruity hop laden pint, but it is a brown, or amber beer tending to the bitter side. However when you first get it to your face there is a definite citrus whiff. The first mouthful was a nice thick mouthful of sweetish beer, then comes the coffee or biscuity malts and to end an almost pine like finish. Lots of taste and a nice thick beer on the tongue. Thoroughly enjoyable.