Victoria Brewery, 6 Napier Street / Albert Street

History of the Victoria Brewery

The owner of the Victoria Brewery was William Henry Apthorpe, born in 1808. He became an alderman in 1858.

The brewery was important in the 1840s and 50s. It supplied 12 barrels of beer for the Coronation Dinner on Parker’s Piece in 1838. One claim is that Apthorpe was the first in the area to supply bottled  pale ales. He retired from brewing c. 1875. The pubs which it controlled were passed to his son, also William Henry Apthorpe who owned the Albion Brewery in Coronation Street.

Richard Holmes took over the brewery in 1875, the, in 1879, Edward Pryor. In 1881 George Gibson took over until the premises were sold to the Star Brewery in 1891.

Star Brewery used the premises as a laboratory and mineral water works, then as a bottle store.

1911

Star Brewery Malting House

6 Napier Street, Dec 1973 (MoC615/74)

The Cambridge Mushroom Company, 6 Napier Street. Note in 1974:

Recently the business failed and the premises are now to let. The black door stood open much of the day, while picking was in progress or to allow the large bags of compost to be carried in and out. One could buy fresh-picked button mushrooms at the door – just rang the bell to summon service – at a good price.

Furniture restorers and antique shop