Fermentation Vats, Sarsons Vinegar Factory

SOUTHWARK

TQ3379 ROPER LANE 636-1/5/639 Fermentation Vats, Sarson's Vinegar 02/08/93 Factory

GV II

Bottling store, later fermentation vats. c1860, altered early C20. Stock brick with slate roofs. EXTERIOR: three-and-a half-storeys, 2 gables, restored in C20 to west side. East side has 2 tall round-headed windows between 1st and 2nd floors and cambered windows to ground floor. 2 hoists and series of loading doors. North side has 4 early C20 four-light pivoting casements. West side has metal casements. INTERIOR: has scientific queen post roof to north and plainer roof with tie beam to south. Cast-iron spiral staircase and 3 large wooden fermentation vats. HISTORICAL NOTE: mustard works were established on this site in 1814 by Noah Slee, the earliest purpose-built structures dating from 1825-1830 extended in the 1960s when the firm went over to the prduction of vinegar. From 1932 the brewery was run by British Vinegars. In 1979 the works were taken over by the Swiss company Nestle which owned Crosse & Blackwell from 1960. Known in the late C20 as Sarson's Vinegar Brewery, the works remained in use until early in 1992. (GLIAS Report 16 August 1992).

Listing NGR: TQ3340879765