Industry & invention · 1789
A brewer orders an engine
In 1789, Court Street got a Boulton & Watt.
Julius Shepherd bought a Sun and Planet engine from Boulton & Watt in 1789. An old trade was getting new machinery.
The brewery’s history also credits him with 65 years in the business. That is a long working life in which to watch a town change.
We do not yet know the engine’s exact jobs. But the purchase is a good reason to look twice at Court Street: behind those old buildings, somebody was spending money on steam.
Sources & research notes · 1 records
The date, maker and engine type follow the company’s published account. The operational interpretation is a question for further research.
Follow the evidence
- The ShepherdsShepherd Neame · company history · accessed 2026-10-07