Camerons Brewery
6 July 2007
6pm to 10.30pm
Camerons Brewery in Hartlepool is a mixture of old and new buildings. The
old sections have, in places, become derelict and unused. The newer areas are
in use 24/7, and are spread over a wide area. There are a number of huge tanks;
some of them are full of beer in various stages of production.
What was meant to be an investigation ended up being an in-depth guided tour. It was an interesting place and a fascinating insight into beer production – but paranormal activity? Nothing.
Apart from the smell, other lasting memories were the amount of dead pigeons dotted around the derelict areas and empty rooms strewn with chemistry equipment or just bare. Although some of the staff gave the impression that the building is haunted and relayed tales of their experiences, I didn't feel this was the case during my visit.
One supposedly haunted room where labels and promotional material is stored revealed the quiet hum of machinery and a slight vibration through the floor. It has been found that infrasound may cause the person who experiences it to have the sensation of ‘something’ happening and that they may perceive it as paranormal when in fact it is the low frequency sound playing with their brain waves.
In a large storeroom we tried calling out. Sounds were heard but they were clearly people in other parts of this vast building and movement of people within the creaky room itself. Just walking across the floor caused shelving to gently rock!
I enjoyed the ground level room that looked like a dingy basement with it’s arched ceiling and miles of pipes and cables that ran in every direction. It was only in here that I had the strange feeling of not being alone for a brief moment. For me, that was the only unexplainable event of the night.
Other people felt they saw shadows and sensed presences. But when 10.30 arrived I was quite happy to leave.
A Brief History
The Lion Brewery has been established in Hartlepool for over 150 years and
has been the home to Camerons since 1865.
In April 2002 The Lion Brewery was purchased by Castle Eden Brewery and a new company was formed - Camerons Brewery Limited.
1852 Lion Brewery purchased by William Waldon for its pure water drawn from an artesian well. This same well supplies the modern brewery today.
186 5 John William Cameron engaged to run the brewery. Took over lease on brewery with the death of William Waldon, Jnr.
1892 Present Lion Brewery was built, incorporating the most up-to-date equipment.
1894 Camerons became a limited company owning 50 pubs.
1955 Famous "Strongarm" brand established to meet the growing demands for a stronger draught beer. Popularity soon established.
1985 As the shipping empire, of which Camerons had become a part, declines, a series of corporate owners move in over the next 7 years.
1992 Taken over by Wolverhampton & Dudley Breweries.
2002 Purchased by Castle Eden Brewery. Camerons Brewery Limited formed and the Lion roars once more as its independence is regained.
2004 Our new Visitors Centre opens in the old Stranton Arms pub on the edge of the Lion Brewery site
Reference
Camerons Brewery
Photo Gallery Here