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Cooling floor at a distillery, south-west London
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Cooling floor at a distillery, south-west London
Cooling floor for ground meal at the Octavius Smith and Co distillery, Thames Bank, south-west London. Date: 1842
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Media ID 23150832
© Mary Evans Picture Library
1840s 1842 Alcohol Bank Distillery Grain Manufacture Manufacturing Meal Octavius Process Processing Spirit Spirits Smith
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This photograph, taken in 1842, offers a rare glimpse into the industrial process of cooling ground meal at the Octavius Smith and Co. distillery located along the Thames Bank in south-west London during the Victorian era. The image showcases a large, dimly lit room filled with men intently working, their faces focused as they tend to the cooling trays piled high with steaming hot meal. The ground meal, a crucial component in the distillation of spirits, is cooled on the cooling floor to prevent further fermentation and ensure the consistency of the final product. The men in the photograph use long wooden paddles to turn the meal, allowing the cool air from the surrounding room to circulate evenly and evenly distribute the heat. The atmosphere in the room is thick with the scent of freshly cooked grain and the sound of machinery in the background hints at the constant motion and energy required to keep the distillation process moving. The workers, dressed in heavy clothing and protective aprons, appear focused and determined, their bodies moving in synchronization as they work in unison to maintain the temperature and texture of the meal. This photograph is a testament to the early industrial revolution and the labor-intensive process of spirit manufacturing during the 1840s. It provides a unique window into the past, revealing the dedication and skill required to produce the spirits that would become a staple of Victorian society.
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