Description:Ground Plan of William Tate’s Malt Distillery and Brewery, 1794.
The 1790s saw a large increase in sales of Boulton & Watt’s rotative engines. They were sold to all types of business, but the largest markets were for textile mills, flour and oil milling, breweries and distilleries. This was a large engine, for William Tate’s malt distillery and brewery in Hanover Square, London. The ground plan clearly shows where the engine was to be located. The engine was badly damaged by fire in 1806.
Note that the horse-powered wheel was to be kept “for occasionally pumping spurtt and wort when the engine is not at work.”
This drawing is part of the Archives of Soho, held by Birmingham City Archives [Ref.MS3147/Portfolio/5/106]