Bridport Old Brewery

The building is a former brewery, established in 1794. A rainwater head dated 1833 suggests an extension to the brewery complex at that time. The main block is constructed of hammer-dressed stone with a double-pitched thatched roof. It has coped gable ends ornamented with finials shaped like barrels. The building is two storeys high with attics. The south elevation features two ranges of segment-headed windows with glazing bars, with the attic floor windows of the south block being round-headed.

An office block adjoins the main block to the south, built of hammer-dressed stone and topped with a hipped slate roof. It has two round-arched windows with plain raised surrounds and vermiculated keystones, plus one more at the south end. A door features a semi-circular fanlight and a matching surround. The carriage entrance has a three-centred arch with rusticated voussoirs.

A further single-storey extension is attached to the south, built of red brick with an ashlar plinth, quoins, and window dressings, and capped with a hipped slate roof. A red brick stack has ashlar cornicing. The extension has a moulded ashlar eaves cornice. A doorway, ascended by four steps, has a semi-circular fanlight, a plain raised surround, and moulded imposts. Two pairs of paired round-headed sash windows are present, with sills resting on consoles, plain raised surrounds, moulded imposts, and dividing colonnettes.

A stone garden wall runs along the south side, constructed of hammer-dressed stone. It ramps upwards to a door with a red brick surround, and again at the south end. An archway between the main block and the west block on Skilling Hill Road has a three-centred shape and planked double doors.

The west block is built of hammer-dressed stone with a pitched corrugated iron roof. It rises three storeys, being taller at the west end, and possesses seven ranges of windows. The ground floor windows are barred, the first floor windows have glazing bars, and the second floor windows are mullioned and transomed. The rear elevation features a variety of casements with glazing bars, irregularly placed, and a large, low, breast undershot water wheel with Poncelet-style blades, constructed by Helyear of Bridport in 1879, which drives a three-throw water pump. A tall red brick stack with ashlar cornicing is located at the south-west corner.

Inside, a vertical steam engine by Brown and May of Devizes drives a water pump and operates a sack hoist.

The brewery buildings, along with numbers 12 to 30 Fives Court Row, form a group.