154 NOTES ON A MINUTE BOOK. 



with certainty to speak of the institution, altliough pretty sure 

 that a thorough collation of the mentions of it in C. 12 and other 

 minute books avouIJ render a clear description possible. As far 

 as I can make out it stood adjoining the "hospital" or workhouse, 

 where South Terrace now is. It seems to have been for some 

 years worked by the Corpoiation with a staff of four men, and the 

 beer sold at a profit, whether retail as well as wholesale I know 

 not. Further the brewhouse was the spot where other borough 

 business went on. Tliere was a small sum of money, about £200, 

 belonging to it, apparently a benefaction intended to be lent at 

 moderate interest to tradesmen and others. Besides this it was 

 at the Brewhouse premises that on one occasion at least (see Feb. 

 23 and June 11, 1649) a "ship loade of Newcastle coles" was 

 received and sold at no small profit. On Sept. 17, 1649, it was 

 resolved to let the Brewhouse at £200 a year, the tenants further 

 to take over '-'several parcels of Fast Money and Almshouse Money 

 ■\yoh ai-e jiow in the Brewhouse being 226 10 8," and for this 

 they are to pay a yearly interest of £20. This seems to have been 

 carried out, for on April 26, 1650, mention is made of the 

 " (farmers of the Brewhouse." Whether it was pure love of 

 temperance or paitly jealousy of rival beer sellers seems a little 

 doubtful as the motive of the following entry: — Apr. 22, 1640. 

 E. Streete desired a license to sell beer "in the lower parish" (All 

 Saints). This " was denied. The Company will sett up no more 

 alehouses." Before quitting beer there is one more passage which 

 should be noted. On June 27, 1 640, owing to the " making of 

 mault and drying it in oaste in this borrough" being dangerous, 

 all malters are to dry all their malt " with coal in killes." This 

 precaution leads us to mention of others against fire, which in 1613 

 and at other times was such a terrible destroyer of Dorchester. 

 On May 13, 1640, the churchwardens of St. Peter's are ordered to 

 send for 24 "tankards," 12 to be "hanged up in the church." 

 These were leather fire buckets I suppose. Again on Dec. 8, 1653, 

 two men for each parish are told off " to see and veiw iif there bee 

 any badd or dangerous chymnyes or mantells . , . and to see 



