Of the many wonderful exhibits which will one day feature prominently in the Miners’ Arms, our Victorian beer engine is worthy of special mention. This magnificent machine was originally located in the Eagle Inn, Skerne – a much loved parlour pub which sadly ceased trading in 2003 upon the retirement of landlord, Roy Edmond.
After the pub’s closure, the beer engine was eventually delivered into the safe keeping of private collector ‘Hotmog’ who arranged for its painstaking restoration. Such was the outstanding quality of repair, one can hardly imagine this appliance had dutifully served for nearly 150 years.
In the summer of 2021, I made contact with Hotmog and explained that I was on the lookout for an antique beer engine and did he know where I might find one. Imagine my excitement, then, when Hotmog suggested that we ought to have the Eagle’s beer engine for installation into our own pub!
Since taking delivery of the beer engine, we have carefully replaced the lead pipes and old cylinders with leather diaphragms. This means that the appliance now satisfies modern-day hygiene requirements and can once again dispense fine ales within the true and proper setting of an olde-worlde inn.
For a detailed look at the history of our beer engine and other spectacular examples of Victorian Breweriana, please visit ‘Hotmog’s Victorian Breweriana’ website, linked below: