Our Location

We are located on Greys, on award-winning farm located directly above Therfield Heath, Royston, North Hertfordshire.  This way for an overhead shot (pre 2005, so it is our premises, but pre us!)...

Greys as a farm holds conservation grade status, and has become known for the work it has done to encourage a variety of bird & animal species to set up home on within its boundaries.  The most recent, and perhaps attractive addition is the reed bed that we use to process all our liquid waste & sewage.

Amongst the many bird species (including seasonal & migrant - but regular - vistors) to be seen from the brewery door through 2006 (Aug) so far are:

Corn Buntings, Skylarks, Golden Plover, Lapwings, Swifts, Martins (House & Sand), Sedge Warblers, Flycatchers, Buzzards, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Hobby, Merlin, Grey Partridge, Jay, Woodpeckers (Green & Greater Spotted), Goldfinch (by the shedload at times), Sandpiper (Green?), and a heron passes by as well.  Of most importance perhaps is not only increasing sightings of Red Kite, but also regular visits by a female  (or possibly juv. male?) Marsh Harrier - a rare bird indeed.  The RSPB A-Z of Birds...

This is all on top of the usual array of owls, doves, pigeons, robins, sparrows, crows etc, although the Barn Owls seem to be suffering at the hands of some of the other raptors that hang around.  We also get the very occasional visit by one of the bands of of Fallow Deer that roam North Hertfordshire (a relic of days long ago when it was popular royal hunting country).  And we mustn't forget the many hares, a couple of which have taken to coming up towards the office door and watch us work.  In time, a more complete record of sightings (esp birds) will be added to this site.

Therfield Heath is itself a large area of chalk grassland, which contains a number of rare plant species, not least of which are the large colony of Pasque Flowers that show themselves around the end of April each year.  There are also a number of orchid species to be found.  The Heath is dotted with ancient burial mounds, and is assumed at one point to have been an important location - it is a dominating local feature, and is easy to see why it would have been important.  It was used by the Romans, was the marshalling point for an army prior to the first battle in the 'Wars Of The Roses', and has been a focal point for many Royston activities over the centuries.  Wikipedia on Therfield Heath...

Royston itself has a long history, being founded (it is believed) by the Knights Templar around the time they were broken up by the Catholic Church.  A cave under the town centre has many odd carvings, said to have importance to the Templar movement.  King James I spend most of his reign in a 'palace' in the town, whiling away his time hunting.  The last (until now of course...) brewery in the town, J & JE Phillips, closed in 1950, although many references to the Phillips family still remain.  Interestingly, Greys was owned by the Phillips family until the 1930's when it was sold to the present owning family.  The brewery itself, after a number of years as a sweet factory belonging to Bassets (of Allsorts fame), was burnt down in the 1970's, and today the site is housing, parking & a supermarket.  Wikipedia on Royston...