Burton On Trent: A Riverside Town-00-5330

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Before the laying down of England’s railway network and the vast network of Tarmac roads, rivers were vital for more than just drinking water or even their fish harvest. Provided the current was not too fast or the water too shallow, rivers and estuaries were the principal trunk roads on which heavier loads were distributed. However, few places have relied more heavily on their river than Burton on Trent.

A Very Special River

The first clue in this special story is that Burton has the river built into its very name. Although not alone in this respect (Stratford-upon-Avon, Newcastle upon Tyne, etc.), the Trent could be said to be the main source of Burton’s existence. One of the town’s early features was a strategically placed bridge which spanned the often-turbulent and dangerous waters of the Trent, making it a successful market town for surrounding areas. Traders came from far and wide for the opportunities provided by this thriving market but there was one other attraction that made their visit particularly special: Burton’s beer.

Something’s Brewing

Although hops, barley and other ...
... ingredients are vital to beer-making, the single most important constituent is Adam’s Ale, better known as water. And no water is better for this special job than the mineral and salt-rich waters flowing down the Trent past Burton. In particular, the Trent’s high gypsum content enabled the town’s many brewers to add extra hops which acted both as a flavour enhancer and preservative, widening both the appeal of the beer and the range over which it could be distributed. All this, at a time when drinking river water was often dangerous because of bacteria and pollution, made making good beer the safer option.

Trent Logistics

The river was providing the town with a logistical solution to its beer trade long before this obscure term appeared on the side of every lorry in the country. Apart from times of unusual drought or flood, the Trent provided Burton’s many breweries with a navigable highway all the way down to the North Sea and back. This route was greatly improved by the opening of the Trent Navigation at the start of the 18th century, putting London and even the Baltic within reach. Eventually, Burton India Pale Ale was exported to the distant colonies of the British Empire, stamping Burton’s name onto the world map.

Gone for a Burton?

With the addition of rail links to ports and cities, Burton on Trent was positioned to become one of the most famous names in beer making; by the late 19th century a quarter of all beer sold in Britain was made there. However, after the rise comes the fall and the 20 Burton breweries operating in 1900 declined to eight by 1928 and today there are only five brewers in town, an important source of employment but a shadow of their past dominance. There are many reasons for this decline, including the Trent (which gained the reputation of being heavily polluted), but today it’s been cleaned up sufficiently for salmon to return.

It’s likely some form of beer brewing will continue to take place in Burton in spite of huge competition from around the globe, as the Burton name has a unique significance in beer making. The special water of the Trent has not gone away, but the town’s future depends on branching into new areas like tourism, especially as it sits within the new National Forest. What better end to a day’s walk in the forest than to sup a pint of Burton’s best beer.

About the Author:

No visit to http://www.burtonmail.co.uk/Home/ would be complete without a wander by the river Trent. For more information on the town and its famous river, visit the http://www.burtonmail.co.uk/Home/ Mail online.