The Malthouse Story

Hythe Brewery was founded in 1669 and  it was decided to have part of the brewery in the high street, which was the Malthouse.  The building is much the same as it was then, although part of the building has since been demolished.  It holds a lot of character with massive beams and old stone walls. When the brewery began the slated slabbed floors would be spread with damp barley, which germinated to form malt. This was dried in a kiln then brewed with hops to make beer.   

James Pashley  the founder of the brewery and builder of the Malthouse was a local resident. When Pashley died the brewery was taken over by the family named Friend.

Ownership was taken over by the Mackeson family

Owned by Henry Mackeson, Brewer, High Street, Hythe

Pale and family who were ale brewers, maltsters, & wine and spirit merchants joined Mackeson & Co  to become part of  the Hythe Brewery

The production of Mackeson's  Milk Stout began.  Each pint was said to contain as much energising carbohydrate

as 10 oz of dairy milk. This stout was to become their most famous product

Mackeson's become part of the Whitbread Brewery

The kiln was demolished and the Malthouse was used as a bonded warehouse for the storage of whisky and other strong alcohol

Production ended at Hythe Brewery - most of which is no longer standing.

Robert and Claudia Maxtone- Graham  (who are the current owners) bought the Malthouse building. The garden

that is there today was bought separately when the council decided it would not be needed for road widening.

It was in this year that it was decided to convert the building into an antiques market. After much work cutting through enormous beams by hand , Robert and his builder opened up the centre of the building to create suitable spaces for individual stalls to be situated. A second staircase was also built.

Local people had become aware of the intent to create an antiques centre and many reserved stalls in advance.

On the 28th June 1974 the antiques market opened its doors to the public with several stalls let.

The Malthouse is still open after over 40 years of trading.