Dunfermline Brewery

Business: James Brown and Son

Location: Dunfermline

Type: Brewery

The Dunfermline Brewery was probably "that commodious brewery, lying on the south side of the High Street, which pertained to the deceased Patrick Wilson … consisting of brewhouse, storehouse, malt barn and kiln, corn barn, stables, and byre, together with the dwelling house and bakehouse" that was offered to let in 1804

The brewery was offered to let again in1811, by which time the proprietor was John Kilgour. It was described as extending "from the High Street to Canmore Street", "well supplied with water" and consisting of "a good dwelling-house, and large garden, well stocked with fruit trees, brew house, storehouse, porter and strong ale cellars, malt-barn and granaries, two kilns, stable, byre and other offices". Henry Bardner was the tenant in 1825, and Robert Auld from about 1832 until his death in 1843. When John Kilgour died in 1835 the property passed to his son Alexander, who was also the Town Clerk.

William Brown was the tenant from at least 1853 to 1861, when his son James took over the family business and established the firm of James Brown and Son. In 1873 James acquired the brewery from the trustees of Alexander Kilgour's estate, and ran it until his death in 1896. The brewery was leased briefly by R. M. Cullen and sons, but was described as empty in 1904. The site lies under a modern retail development, but a house associated with the malt kiln is still standing.