The Lion Brewery

Jamie Hulkes, or better known in his day as Squire Hulkes; brewer, sportsman and celebrated coaching whip, was a personage to be remembered- whether he was walking, or sitting on the box-seat of his stage coach tooting his four-in-hand through the traffic of Rochester. The brewery premises were extensive, consisting of a wharf with large river frontage, stables, brew house and stores. In front was the private dwelling house, and early Georgian building facing the High Street. There was a paved front courtyard enclosed with high iron railings. The front door was approached by a flight of stone steps, covered by a portico. There is also on the opposite side of the High Street a garden, enclosed with iron railings and gates, approached by stone steps, and a castellated building, which contains a striking clock. This was the waterworks which supplied the brewery with water. In the brickwork abutting on the High Street is an iron plate, with the initials F.P.J.H. and the date 1809. The brewery was sold to Charles Arkcoll & Co. and then renamed “The Lion Brewery”, upon the death of Mr Arkcoll the brewery was sold by auction and purchased by Mr Browne of the firm of Owen J. Carter & Co., and later sold by him to Style & Winch. The brewery was no longer required, and the extensive premises were taken over by several different firms. The dwelling house was acquired by Messers Featherstones ltd. and on the paved forecourt a large double shop front has been built for the display of goods from their furnishing department.