Up until the mid 1960s, every September would see thousands of poor working class families in the East End of London escape the grime and squalor of the inner city and travel to the hop fields of Kent to pick the hop harvest for the beer industry.. A sort of working holiday and only chance for many children to see the countryside..
Fast forward to 2007 and at work we built a retirement home in Shadwell, East London. Now for most of these residents, 'hopping' was a happy memory of a tough by enjoyable time.. We decided to create an exhibition in the day room and plant hops in the garden as a way to remember this bygone age.
This year, the plants produced a really good crop of hops so we contacted a local micro brewery and he was only too happy to produce a special brew.
Last night 4 dozen bottles were delivered at work... Just in time for Christmas...
Oh - the 2 young girls pictured on the label are sisters, now in their 80s and residents in the home.
Merry Christmas!