History

British on the Moselle

At the beginning of the 19th century the first tourists came to the Moselle – full of romantic enthusiasm. Especially English painters, who depicted the beautiful Moselle valley, as well as enthusiastic travel descriptions were trendsetters for the growing Moselle tourism.

Brewery in the wine region

The British, who were eager to travel, quickly sparked the need for English beverages on the European mainland. However, high import duties and additional freight costs had a heavy impact. Presumably, therefore, in 1852 an English private citizen began brewing English-style beer in the former abbey tithe house in Mesenich. There were “porter” and “ale.”

After only a short time, the existing buildings became too cramped, and so in 1854, with new partners, an imposing brewery and warehouse building was erected on the opposite bank. The production volume increased rapidly and filled the large warehouses. The beer was consumed in the greater Trier/Koblenz region, and there were even orders from India and Australia.

Disasters

The rapid growth of the brewery attracted more English people – family members, domestic servants and brewery workers. However, after a number of misfortunes within a short period of time – three children drowned; the brewmaster died after a fall – sales difficulties and resulting financial shortages were also experienced. As early as 1858, the striking brewery building stood empty for the first time.

Multiple uses

After that, new investors tried brewing Bavarian beer. In 1882, a wine merchant from Bonn bought the building complex and used it as a temporary storage and transfer center. However, a variety of other uses (e.g., for animal breeding, rope-making, lodging, hunting lodge, material storage, and wine tavern) did not last very long. Rumors about counterfeiting, black market slaughtering and other dark machinations made the rounds.

No one was able to gain a foothold. It seemed as if the place was cursed!

Vacancy and decline

After the last residents (Beck family) moved out in the early 1950s, the once magnificent buildings began their final decline.

Only vagrants still found shelter. Exploitation through dismantling of usable building material over decades and constant reclamation by nature left a ruin resembling a ghost castle.

Just rats and bats remained – the end of a long odyssey!

The new English Brewery in Mesenich on the Moselle.  Advertising in the Frankfurter Journal March 7. 1853