Page 92 - the Alan Blakeman Catalogue

208. BARNSLEY OAK WELL BREWERY SHOWCARD. 35.2 x 45ins. Large and impressive multicoloured pictorial showcard with the Brewery oak tree picorial trade mark with two traction engines below laden with beer barrels with the proclomation below STEAM VERSUS HORSES - TRACTION ENGINES - HOME PRODUCTION - WORK FOR THE MILLION. Printers name below left for INCHBOLD & BECK. A truly outstanding and very significant early Brewery showcard offering - the finest BBR has ever offered in 40+ years. One other example is known housed in Castle Museum York. Visible wear/ marks but this housed in
its original frame - acquired from family descendants and housed in the Bottle Museum for almost 20 years. 8?/ 10 (cannot see any paper damge/ tears). NR. £3,000-4,000+
A REAL BIT OF YORKSHIRE AND DEFINITELY A BIT OF AB?
Although not Barnsley born & bred the Yorkshire village of Elsecar has been my home for almost 55 years and this particular sign is very much a an absolute chunk of my heart, along maybe with the giant pot lid and, and.....
One other example is recorded now housed in the Castle Museum York.! Being a staunch Barnsley fan and a partaker of any ale carrying the Barnsley name, currently Barnsley Gold served at the Market pub next to the Heritage Centre. Unsure if I cut myself blood will come out, or the liquid gold, lol! This particular giant early showcard was braught in to us at the Heritage Centre by a family descendant who simply wanted to sell it. A price was agreed (in hindsight a good buy) but unfortunately a week later she came back and agreed the price - but wanted the same for her sister. Effectively double - good Yorkshire logic?
In April 1991 we launched the Bottle Museum upstairs opposite what is now the Antique Centre and in the far bay, on that very day, was relaunched the long since past, but fondly remembered, Barnsley Bitter. I was always a Guiness drinker, but having a ‘lock in’ in the Brewery... I was forever hooked on real ale.
After several decades of being off sale it was interesting to hear the local old timers comment “it is not the same as it used to be!” Could you really recall the taste of a beer after so long since its passing?
Even sadder - for so long the cast iron Barnsley Brewery sign over the entrance way had survived. One of my quests in the early days on site was to save it - and transport it for longevity on the Heritage Centre. It fit perfectly from the old Bottle museum across to the Antique Centre building... we finally got permission to transport it to Elsecar but over the w/e preceding our arranged transport - it was nicked, presumably melted down for scrap! After 120 years brewing history the site has now been bulldozed for redevelopment!