Kirkland Brewery

Business: Thomas Stewart

Location: Ceres

Type: Brewery

What became known as the Kirkland Brewery was established on the land surrounding the old manse of Ceres Parish Church. The earliest known owner was David Melville who leased the premises to Michael Philp, who had moved to Ceres from Cupar by 1800. It later passed into the hands of the Crichton family, and after Michael Philp died in 1831 the brewery was run by his wife Agnes. It was described as a "small common brewery … for brewing ale and porter"  and as "adjoining the manse" in 1855, at which time it was leased by Thomas Stewart. After Thomas was declared bankrupt in 1863 it was taken on by Alexander Brand, but in 1865 he was also declared bankrupt.

Brewing would appear to have ended soon after and the premises were unoccupied in 1875, by which time they had passed into the hands of David Creighton, a farmer in Tinwald in Dumfriesshire.

Most of the site now lies under the church car park.