As any local will tell you, there are two breweries in Masham - Black Sheep and Theakstons, and woe betide anyone who shows favouritism. But only one of them has a small pub area where you can see the last apprenticed craft cooper in England, Jonathan Manby, at work. The apprenticeship lasts four years. Theakstons have employed coopers since they were founded in 1827 and still sell some of their beers in hand-made wooden casks.
Visitors love the brewery tour at Theakstons (and Black Sheep of course...). You can also just pop into the Black Bull in Paradise for an "early doors" pint.
It's a small, cosy setting with flagstones, an open fire and wood furniture made from or inspired by beer barrels. The curious name comes from the Black Bull pub in which the brewery was founded, and the Paradise Fields that Robert Theakston bought to build his new brewery in 1850.
The Black Bull in Paradise is part of the visitor centre so closes early, at 4.30 or 5.30 depending on the season. After hours, it can be hired for private celebrations so you can organise a 'party in a brewery'...
There are artefacts on display telling of the tradition of Theakston brewing. Go through to the back of the pub and you can look through windows into the cooper's workshop where you may spot Jonathan at work. He demonstrates the precision of his craft at events such as the annual Masham Sheep Fair.
One of Theakston's best known beers is "Old Peculier", which is now sold all over the world. It takes its name from the "Peculier Court of Masham". In this sense Peculiar meant particular. Much of the land around Masham was owned by Roger de Mowbray who fought in the Crusades. He was captured and held to ransom until being freed by the Knights of the Templar. He was obviously grateful for this so he donated the the living of Masham church to the church of St. Peter in York.
This was in the 12th century when the road between York and Masham was even more pot-holed than it is now and the Archbishop thought the journey to the wilderness of Wensleydale was not worth the effort. He established the Peculier Court of Masham, giving it the right to deal with certain offences that would otherwise be dealt with in York. Historical documents outline some of the offences that were dealt with in the court. These ranged from not going to church often enough, to hiding Roman Catholic priests, to "carrying a dead man’s skull out of the churchyard and laying it under the head of a person to charm them to sleep"... Nowadays locals just use the beer...
Visitors love the brewery tour at Theakstons (and Black Sheep of course...). You can also just pop into the Black Bull in Paradise for an "early doors" pint.
It's a small, cosy setting with flagstones, an open fire and wood furniture made from or inspired by beer barrels. The curious name comes from the Black Bull pub in which the brewery was founded, and the Paradise Fields that Robert Theakston bought to build his new brewery in 1850.
The Black Bull in Paradise is part of the visitor centre so closes early, at 4.30 or 5.30 depending on the season. After hours, it can be hired for private celebrations so you can organise a 'party in a brewery'...
There are artefacts on display telling of the tradition of Theakston brewing. Go through to the back of the pub and you can look through windows into the cooper's workshop where you may spot Jonathan at work. He demonstrates the precision of his craft at events such as the annual Masham Sheep Fair.
One of Theakston's best known beers is "Old Peculier", which is now sold all over the world. It takes its name from the "Peculier Court of Masham". In this sense Peculiar meant particular. Much of the land around Masham was owned by Roger de Mowbray who fought in the Crusades. He was captured and held to ransom until being freed by the Knights of the Templar. He was obviously grateful for this so he donated the the living of Masham church to the church of St. Peter in York.
This was in the 12th century when the road between York and Masham was even more pot-holed than it is now and the Archbishop thought the journey to the wilderness of Wensleydale was not worth the effort. He established the Peculier Court of Masham, giving it the right to deal with certain offences that would otherwise be dealt with in York. Historical documents outline some of the offences that were dealt with in the court. These ranged from not going to church often enough, to hiding Roman Catholic priests, to "carrying a dead man’s skull out of the churchyard and laying it under the head of a person to charm them to sleep"... Nowadays locals just use the beer...
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