THIS week in Yester Years, we are taking a look at this history of one of Warrington’s most famous employers.

Tetley Walkers’ brewery on Dallam Lane finally called ‘Time’ on its operation in 1994 and so ended an era.

Peter Walker’s first site in Warrington was on King Street before moving the brewery to Dallam Lane (now demolished and part of the car park of The Halliwell Jones Stadium).

He was quite the astute businessman as well as a brewer of some renown and quickly realised the potential in pale ale if only it could be rendered more cost effective, transportable and importantly, exportable to Queen Victoria’s growing empire.

He came up with an invention called the ‘Burton Union’ and quickly patented his model. His original was barely used in the industry, but his patent ensured that the name and idea earned him his fortune.

Its modern day namesake is still in use for Marston’s ‘Pedigree’ ales and earned Warrington a place in brewing history. This invention enabled the export of pale ale, now better known as India Pale Ale. Rather curiously at that time, pale ale was considered to be of a weaker, ‘inferior’ strength. It would be about 18 per cent proof by today’s measuring standards.