Following the launch of trove.scot in February 2025 we are now planning the retiral of some of our webservices. Canmore will be switched off on 24th June 2025. Information about the closure can be found on the HES website: Retiral of HES web services | Historic Environment Scotland
Prestonpans, High Street, Brewery
Brewery (Period Unassigned)
Site Name Prestonpans, High Street, Brewery
Classification Brewery (Period Unassigned)
Alternative Name(s) Fowler's Brewery
Canmore ID 53736
Site Number NT37SE 88
NGR NT 3900 7480
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/53736
- Council East Lothian
- Parish Prestonpans
- Former Region Lothian
- Former District East Lothian
- Former County East Lothian
NT37SE 88 3900 7480
There are no visible remains of this building. The area is now a flat grass covered area, part of it is tarmaced and used as a car park and boat storage yard.
Site recorded by GUARD during the Coastal Assessment Survey for Historic Scotland, 'The Firth of Forth from Dunbar to the Coast of Fife' 22nd February 1996.
Archaeological Evaluation (25 March 2008 - 26 March 2008)
NT 3903 7475 In March 2008, we undertook an archaeological evaluation at 43 High Street, Prestonpans. Three evaluation trenches were excavated in advance of development, covering 5% of a site considered to be the location of the original Fowler’s Brewery. Foundations of two brewery buildings were recorded; historic maps suggest that these structures were standing in the mid to late 19th century, but an earlier origin is not impossible because the small scale and imprecision of earlier maps makes it difficult to establish if these structures are depicted. In addition, two phases of wall were recorded which may pre-date one of these buildings. A stone-lined well was also revealed, and a Rapid Buildings Appraisal identified the SW gable of one of the probable brewery buildings surviving in the SW boundary wall of the site.
Archive: RCAHMS
Funder: Developer
Richard Heawood (Abercorn Archaeology LLP), 2008
External Reference (3 October 2016)
This Brewery was closed in 1970 having gone into liquidation in 1969. United Brewers merged with Caledonian Brewers which also included Murray's Brewery Peffer Place Edinburgh, and Young's of Alloa. Murray's ceased altogether and the other two merged with J.R. Tennent of Glasgow and became Tennent Caledonian. Only Fowler's Wee Heavy and Young's Sweetheart Stout were kept. The original site became a housing development, and the original maltings opposite is now a row of shops. The Main Office is now a block of flats as is the business office.
Information from Mr Colin Carroll, 3 October 2016
