{"id":348,"date":"2026-08-11T15:00:17","date_gmt":"2026-08-11T15:00:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/westgatebrewery.org\/?page_id=348"},"modified":"2026-09-08T11:55:57","modified_gmt":"2026-09-08T10:55:57","slug":"history","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/westgatebrewery.org\/?page_id=348","title":{"rendered":"History"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wb-page-root wb-history-page\" id=\"history-top\" role=\"main\">\n<header class=\"wb-site-header\" aria-label=\"Westgate Brewery navigation\">\n<div class=\"wb-header-wrap wb-site-header-inner\">\n      <a class=\"wb-wordmark\" href=\"https:\/\/westgatebrewery.org\/\" aria-label=\"Westgate Brewery homepage\"><strong>Westgate<\/strong><span>Brewery \u00b7 Wakefield<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<nav class=\"wb-nav\" aria-label=\"Main navigation\"><a href=\"https:\/\/westgatebrewery.org\/?page_id=330\">Home<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/westgatebrewery.org\/?page_id=330#spaces\">Spaces<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/westgatebrewery.org\/?page_id=330#floor-plans\">Floor plans<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/westgatebrewery.org\/?page_id=330#gallery\">Gallery<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/westgatebrewery.org\/?page_id=348\" aria-current=\"page\">History<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/westgatebrewery.org\/?page_id=487\">News<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/westgatebrewery.org\/?page_id=346\">FAQ<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/westgatebrewery.org\/?page_id=389\">Location<\/a><\/nav>\n<p>      <a class=\"wb-header-cta\" href=\"https:\/\/westgatebrewery.org\/?page_id=330#enquire\">Arrange a viewing<\/a><\/p>\n<details class=\"wb-mobile-menu\">\n<summary aria-label=\"Open site navigation\">Menu<\/summary>\n<div class=\"wb-mobile-menu-panel\"><a href=\"https:\/\/westgatebrewery.org\/?page_id=330\">Home<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/westgatebrewery.org\/?page_id=330#spaces\">Spaces<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/westgatebrewery.org\/?page_id=330#floor-plans\">Floor plans<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/westgatebrewery.org\/?page_id=330#gallery\">Gallery<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/westgatebrewery.org\/?page_id=348\" aria-current=\"page\">History<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/westgatebrewery.org\/?page_id=487\">News<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/westgatebrewery.org\/?page_id=346\">FAQ<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/westgatebrewery.org\/?page_id=389\">Location<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/westgatebrewery.org\/?page_id=330#enquire\">Arrange a viewing<\/a><\/div>\n<\/details><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<section class=\"wb-history-hero\" aria-labelledby=\"wb-history-title\">\n<figure class=\"wb-history-hero-media\">\n      <img\n        src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/westgate-05-archive-exterior.jpg\"\n        alt=\"Historic view of Westgate Brewery and the surrounding Wakefield streetscape\"\n        width=\"1477\"\n        height=\"1065\"\n        decoding=\"async\"\n        fetchpriority=\"high\"><br \/>\n    <\/figure>\n<div class=\"wb-history-hero-shade\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"wb-history-wrap wb-history-hero-inner\">\n<div class=\"wb-history-hero-copy\">\n<p class=\"wb-history-eyebrow wb-history-eyebrow--light\">\n          The story of Westgate Brewery\n        <\/p>\n<h1 id=\"wb-history-title\">Built on<br \/>history.<\/h1>\n<p class=\"wb-history-hero-lede\">\n          More than a century of brewing, trade and enterprise\u2014now beginning a<br \/>\n          new chapter as a distinctive home for modern business.\n        <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div\n        class=\"wb-history-hero-stat\"\n        role=\"group\"\n        aria-label=\"More than 120 years of history\"\n      ><br \/>\n        <strong>120+<\/strong><br \/>\n        <span>Years of working history on Westgate<\/span>\n      <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"wb-history-photo-note\">\n      Archive photograph \u00b7 Westgate Brewery, Wakefield\n    <\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"wb-history-factbar\" aria-label=\"History at a glance\">\n<div class=\"wb-history-wrap wb-history-factbar-grid\">\n<div>\n        <strong>1905\u201306<\/strong><span>H.B. Clark &amp; Co. established<\/span>\n      <\/div>\n<div><strong>1982<\/strong><span>Brewing returns to Westgate<\/span><\/div>\n<div><strong>Today<\/strong><span>A new commercial chapter<\/span><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"wb-history-intro\" aria-labelledby=\"wb-history-intro-title\">\n<div class=\"wb-history-wrap wb-history-intro-grid\">\n<div class=\"wb-history-intro-heading\">\n<p class=\"wb-history-eyebrow\">A Wakefield landmark<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"wb-history-intro-title\">\n          Industry shaped the building.<br \/>Enterprise keeps it alive.<br \/>\n        <\/h2>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"wb-history-intro-copy\">\n<p class=\"wb-history-lead\">\n          Westgate Brewery began life as the home of H.B. Clark &amp; Co., part<br \/>\n          of Wakefield&#8217;s long tradition of independent brewing and drinks<br \/>\n          distribution.\n        <\/p>\n<p>\n          Across more than a century, the site has adapted repeatedly to the<br \/>\n          needs of local commerce. Its brick elevations, practical industrial<br \/>\n          layout and unmistakable character are the product of a building<br \/>\n          designed to work.\n        <\/p>\n<p>\n          Today, The Boylin Group is giving the site a new commercial<br \/>\n          purpose\u2014creating flexible offices, studios, commercial units and<br \/>\n          storage while preserving the identity that makes Westgate Brewery<br \/>\n          distinctive.\n        <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"wb-history-ribbon\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"wb-history-ribbon-track\">\n      <span>H.B. Clark &amp; Co.<\/span><i><\/i> <span>Wakefield<\/span><i><\/i><br \/>\n      <span>Brewing<\/span><i><\/i> <span>Westgate<\/span><i><\/i><br \/>\n      <span>Industry<\/span><i><\/i><br \/>\n      <span>Reinvention<\/span>\n    <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<section\n    class=\"wb-history-timeline-section\"\n    aria-labelledby=\"wb-history-timeline-title\"\n  ><\/p>\n<div class=\"wb-history-wrap\">\n<header class=\"wb-history-section-head\">\n<div>\n<p class=\"wb-history-eyebrow\">Through the years<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"wb-history-timeline-title\">\n            A working site<br \/>never stands still.<br \/>\n          <\/h2>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>\n          Westgate Brewery has changed with the businesses, people and<br \/>\n          industries around it\u2014without losing the character built into its<br \/>\n          walls.\n        <\/p>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"wb-history-timeline\">\n<article class=\"wb-history-event\">\n          <time datetime=\"1905\">1905\u201306<\/time><\/p>\n<div class=\"wb-history-event-line\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n            <span><\/span>\n          <\/div>\n<div class=\"wb-history-event-copy\">\n<p class=\"wb-history-event-label\">The beginning<\/p>\n<h3>H.B. Clark &amp; Co. is established.<\/h3>\n<p>\n              Published records place the founding of H.B. Clark &amp; Co.<br \/>\n              around 1905\u20131906. The business brewed for Wakefield&#8217;s free trade,<br \/>\n              beginning the site&#8217;s long association with beer, distribution and<br \/>\n              independent commerce.\n            <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article class=\"wb-history-event\">\n          <time datetime=\"1960\">1960<\/time><\/p>\n<div class=\"wb-history-event-line\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n            <span><\/span>\n          <\/div>\n<div class=\"wb-history-event-copy\">\n<p class=\"wb-history-event-label\">A changing trade<\/p>\n<h3>Brewing pauses.<\/h3>\n<p>\n              Brewing ceased in 1960. H.B. Clark continued as a drinks<br \/>\n              distributor, keeping Westgate commercially active even while<br \/>\n              production itself was absent.\n            <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article class=\"wb-history-event\">\n          <time datetime=\"1982-07\">1982<\/time><\/p>\n<div class=\"wb-history-event-line\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n            <span><\/span>\n          <\/div>\n<div class=\"wb-history-event-copy\">\n<p class=\"wb-history-event-label\">The return<\/p>\n<h3>The brewhouse comes back to life.<\/h3>\n<p>\n              Brewing recommenced in July 1982 following the development of a<br \/>\n              new brewhouse, opening another substantial period of production at<br \/>\n              Westgate.\n            <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article class=\"wb-history-event\">\n          <time datetime=\"2017\">c. 2017<\/time><\/p>\n<div class=\"wb-history-event-line\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n            <span><\/span>\n          <\/div>\n<div class=\"wb-history-event-copy\">\n<p class=\"wb-history-event-label\">Another transition<\/p>\n<h3>On-site brewing ends.<\/h3>\n<p>\n              After decades of renewed production, brewing at the Wakefield site<br \/>\n              ceased around 2017. The buildings remained a visible part of the<br \/>\n              city&#8217;s brewing and commercial history.\n            <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article class=\"wb-history-event wb-history-event--now\">\n          <time datetime=\"2026\">Today<\/time><\/p>\n<div class=\"wb-history-event-line\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n            <span><\/span>\n          <\/div>\n<div class=\"wb-history-event-copy\">\n<p class=\"wb-history-event-label\">The next chapter<\/p>\n<h3>A landmark built for business again.<\/h3>\n<p>\n              The Boylin Group is refurbishing the former brewery in phases to<br \/>\n              create practical, flexible commercial workspace while retaining<br \/>\n              the heritage and industrial character of the site.\n            <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/article><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"wb-history-people\" aria-labelledby=\"wb-history-people-title\">\n<figure class=\"wb-history-people-image\">\n      <img\n        src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/westgate-06-archive-staff.jpg\"\n        alt=\"Clark's Brewery staff with a Wakefield centenary celebration brew barrel\"\n        width=\"1451\"\n        height=\"1084\"\n        loading=\"lazy\"\n        decoding=\"async\"><figcaption>Archive photograph \u00b7 Clark&#8217;s Brewery staff<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"wb-history-people-copy\">\n<div>\n<p class=\"wb-history-eyebrow wb-history-eyebrow--red\">\n          More than brick and mortar\n        <\/p>\n<h2 id=\"wb-history-people-title\">A place made by people.<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wb-history-lead\">\n          The brewery&#8217;s story is not only one of buildings and machinery. It is<br \/>\n          the story of the people who brewed, bottled, distributed and worked<br \/>\n          here.\n        <\/p>\n<p>\n          That working spirit matters to the next phase of Westgate. The<br \/>\n          ambition is not to turn the site into a museum, but to keep it useful:<br \/>\n          a place where independent businesses can make, build and grow.\n        <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section\n    class=\"wb-history-principles\"\n    aria-labelledby=\"wb-history-principles-title\"\n  ><\/p>\n<div class=\"wb-history-wrap\">\n<header class=\"wb-history-principles-head\">\n<p class=\"wb-history-eyebrow\">Past meets future<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"wb-history-principles-title\">\n          Preserve the story.<br \/>Change the purpose.<br \/>\n        <\/h2>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"wb-history-principle-grid\">\n<article>\n          <span>01<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Retain the character<\/h3>\n<p>\n            Protect the industrial identity, original fabric and sense of place<br \/>\n            that distinguish Westgate from newly built commercial space.\n          <\/p>\n<\/article>\n<article>\n          <span>02<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Make it practical<\/h3>\n<p>\n            Adapt the buildings into flexible spaces for offices, studios,<br \/>\n            storage, light industry and a varied community of businesses.\n          <\/p>\n<\/article>\n<article>\n          <span>03<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Give it another century<\/h3>\n<p>\n            Put productive commercial activity back at the centre of the site so<br \/>\n            its history continues in the present tense.\n          <\/p>\n<\/article><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"wb-history-detail\" aria-labelledby=\"wb-history-detail-title\">\n<div class=\"wb-history-wrap wb-history-detail-grid\">\n<div class=\"wb-history-detail-copy\">\n<p class=\"wb-history-eyebrow wb-history-eyebrow--light\">\n          The next chapter\n        <\/p>\n<h2 id=\"wb-history-detail-title\">Character cannot be manufactured.<\/h2>\n<p>\n          Modern commercial spaces are being introduced within a setting that<br \/>\n          already has identity\u2014giving occupiers something different from a<br \/>\n          conventional office block or anonymous business park.\n        <\/p>\n<p>        <a href=\"https:\/\/westgatebrewery.org\/?page_id=330#spaces\"\n          >Explore the available spaces <span aria-hidden=\"true\">\u2197<\/span><\/a\n        >\n      <\/div>\n<figure class=\"wb-history-detail-image\">\n        <img\n          src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/westgate-07-bottlery-detail.jpg\"\n          alt=\"Industrial wall light and timber detail at The Bottlery, Westgate Brewery\"\n          width=\"485\"\n          height=\"595\"\n          loading=\"lazy\"\n          decoding=\"async\"><figcaption>The Bottlery \u00b7 retained industrial detail<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"wb-history-cta\" aria-labelledby=\"wb-history-cta-title\">\n<div class=\"wb-history-wrap wb-history-cta-grid\">\n<div>\n<p class=\"wb-history-eyebrow wb-history-eyebrow--light\">\n          A working heritage\n        <\/p>\n<h2 id=\"wb-history-cta-title\">History isn&#8217;t<br \/>finished here.<\/h2>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"wb-history-cta-copy\">\n<p>\n          Westgate Brewery is becoming a new home for businesses that value<br \/>\n          character, flexibility and a distinctive Wakefield address.\n        <\/p>\n<div class=\"wb-history-buttons\">\n          <a\n            class=\"wb-history-btn wb-history-btn--cream\"\n            href=\"https:\/\/westgatebrewery.org\/?page_id=330#spaces\"\n            >View the spaces<\/a\n          ><br \/>\n          <a\n            class=\"wb-history-btn wb-history-btn--outline\"\n            href=\"https:\/\/westgatebrewery.org\/?page_id=330#enquire\"\n            >Arrange a viewing<\/a\n          >\n        <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<aside class=\"wb-history-source-note\">\n<div class=\"wb-history-wrap\">\n<p>\n        Historical dates are based on published records relating to H.B. Clark<br \/>\n        &amp; Co. Early sources differ slightly on the founding year, which is<br \/>\n        therefore shown as 1905\u201306.\n      <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<footer class=\"wb-history-site-footer\">\n<div class=\"wb-history-wrap wb-history-footer-inner\">\n      <a\n        class=\"wb-history-wordmark wb-history-wordmark--footer\"\n        href=\"https:\/\/westgatebrewery.org\/\"\n      ><br \/>\n        <strong>Westgate<\/strong><br \/>\n        <span>Brewery \u00b7 Wakefield<\/span><br \/>\n      <\/a><\/p>\n<p>Distinctive commercial space in the heart of Wakefield.<\/p>\n<p>      <a class=\"wb-history-back-top\" href=\"#history-top\">Back to top \u2191<\/a>\n    <\/div>\n<\/footer>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>WestgateBrewery \u00b7 Wakefield HomeSpacesFloor plansGalleryHistoryNewsFAQLocation Arrange a viewing Menu HomeSpacesFloor plansGalleryHistoryNewsFAQLocationArrange a viewing The story of Westgate Brewery Built onhistory. More than a century of brewing, trade and enterprise\u2014now beginning a new chapter as a distinctive home for modern business. 120+ Years of working history on Westgate Archive photograph \u00b7 Westgate Brewery, Wakefield 1905\u201306H.B. Clark &hellip; <\/p>\n<p class=\"link-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/westgatebrewery.org\/?page_id=348\" class=\"more-link\">Read more<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;History&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"inspiro_hide_title":false,"inspiro_hide_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-348","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/westgatebrewery.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/348","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/westgatebrewery.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/westgatebrewery.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/westgatebrewery.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/westgatebrewery.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=348"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/westgatebrewery.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/348\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":492,"href":"https:\/\/westgatebrewery.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/348\/revisions\/492"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/westgatebrewery.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=348"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}