Business: William Ker
Location: Peebles
Type: Brewery
The Kerfield Brewery was built by William Ker in the 1780s on land that formed part of the Kerfield Estate to the east of the town of Peebles. It was described as "one of the completest breweries and distilleries" and benefitted from a supply of good quality water from the Soonhope Burn.
The brewery was put up for sale following William's death in 1807, and was eventually acquired by his son-in-law, William Aitchison, in 1810.
William, who traded as Aitchison & Co, was sufficiently successful that he built the Canongate Brewery in Edinburgh, where he moved his brewing operations in 1828. The Kerfield Brewery, which had survived plans by Thomas Telford to run a railway through the estate, was then mostly taken down.
Active: 1780s - 1828
Address: Kerfield
Status: Part survives
Current Use: Residential property
Sadly we do not have a picture of the Kerfield Brewery. Please contact us if you have one!
Web resources
Canmore has a record relating to the Kerfield Brewery.
Books and Periodicals
Anon. To be sold by public roup. Caledonian Mercury, 5th October, 1807.
Chambers, W. A history of Peebleshire. Edinburgh: William and Robert Chambers, 1864.
Dalgleish, W. Statistical Account of Scotland. XII.I: Parish of Peebles, County of Peebles. Edinburgh: William Creech, 1796.
Hundey, I. Privileged Scot, Canadian invader, and Australian convict: the story of James Milne Aitchison. Australian Canadian Studies, 29(2), 2011, pp.49-81.
