Is there a post-industrial future for hop growing in Farnham? The origin of the Farnham Hoppers Project….…..

The early history of hop growing Hops arrive in England in 16 th century from Flanders Hops outlawed by Henry VIII Hops arrive in Farnham 1580’s from Essex Geology and landscape favour Farnham Tithe records show arable being land turned over to hops

Beginnings of real growth: 17th to late 18 th century In 17 th century local economy dominated by the cloth and corn trades. Many varieties of English hops grown Expanding acreage under hops Trading from Wey Hill Fair, the Blissimere Hall Acre Hop growing still part of a diversified local economy

Victorian boom time: Mr William Peckham spots a sport in1750 The Farnham Whitebine takes off via Kent Farnham “Hop Capital of Britain” Whitebine achieves a 30% price premium Town gets rich and is rebuilt. Owning a “hop ground” now a status symbol Specialisations develop: hop growers, hop factors, banking, special trade skills required. Large annual influx in of hop-pickers in Sept.

The great agricultural depression 1879 – 1914 Huge collapse of hop prices Big rise in imports combined with poor harvests of Changes in brewing methods and in taste Price differential for Farnham hops disappeared Changes in licensing laws reduced PHs

The Great War Devastated hop growing in Farnham Hops grubbed up, acreage down by 50% Conversion of land to cereals Licensing laws tightened, beer tax imposed Beer production fell back by 25% 1917 Hop Control set, imports restricted.

Turmoil between the Wars 1924 over-production of hops Imports allowed, beer prices up and Hop Control wound up Whitebine succumbs to Downy mildew, replaced by Goldings and Fuggles 1931 Hop Marketing Board set up, supported hop industry through 1930’s Depression 1937 Electrification of railway, hop growers start to sell out to developers

Impact of WWII 1940 one third of UK hop stock destroyed by enemy action 1941 MoFood reduces hops in beer by 20%, MoAgriculture takes over hop lands Acute labour shortages, schools do picking, refugees too Only 60 hop acres left with 4 main growers

The end-time of industrial production Social causes to final post-war decline Picker migration collapses 1954 no-one arrives to pick hops 1955 first hop-picking machine, harvest achieved with only 12 workers Weydon Lane area lost to housing in 1950’s and the Chantries in1960’s 1961 Vandalism forces Jim Tice to sell EU restrictions force closure of last hop ground at Holt Pound

31 years later in the post- industrial age Dwarf hop plants bred to allow use of “straddle” picking machines High quality aromatic dwarf hops released onto the retail market Explosion of craft beer micro-breweries Community hop-growing initiatives pioneered in UK Transition movement March Farnham Hopper’s rhizomes planted

Growing beer to build community Using hop heritage to meet the “felt need” for greater community in Farnham Creating an informal hop growers co- operative among Farnham households Producing “green” brewing hops for local micro-breweries in exchange for free beer to value of hops. Sampled our first cask of beer at the Hoppers’ Green Beerfest, Nov 2014.