#upminster

Upminster, UK

‘A mother fox and two of her cubs. These cubs are only just emerging from the den at about two weeks old (as indicated by the fact their eyes are still blue).’

Upminster Tithe Barn

Though it was once part of Essex, Upminster has been in the Greater London area since 1965. Whilst the Upminster Tithe Barn dates from long before though… shhh it still counts!

The Tithe Barn was built around 1450 on the estate of the Abbey of Waltham. A tithe is a form of tribute given to the land owners, consisting of one tenth of an income, usually paid in crops, livestock, wood, etc. – though there is no record of the barn ever being used to store collected tithes! With the dissolution the monasteries the estate passed to Thomas Cromwell in 1540, then following his execution passed through a series of owners until coming into the hands of the Branfil family, who owned it up until the early 20th Century. The barn itself then passed through the ownership of several companies before coming into the possession of Hornchurch Urban District Council and then the Borough of Havering.

A fire in 1973 seriously damaged the thatched roof, leading to an extensive restoration which was completed in 1976. Though there were plans to use the barn as an events venue, or even a fancy spa, it was decided to use it to house an agricultural museum. Over the years the collection expanded to include many domestic items and pieces of historical interest from the local area – giving the barn its current designation as the Museum of Nostalgia.

First time in my life I've ever seen sails on a windmill spin.

There’s something deeply dangerous about having a weekend off when you work on the Underground. You spend so much time working while everyone else is out enjoying themselves that, when your own weekend finally arrives, you treat it like civilisation is about to collapse by Monday morning. Suddenly every pint feels historically important. 🍺

So last night, my lovely wife and I headed to one of my favourite little haunts: The Tap Room in Upminster.

Calling it a “micropub” almost feels too generous somehow. It’s more like somebody looked at their garden shed and thought: “You know what this needs? Fifteen casks, live music, and several cheerful strangers discussing IPA percentages like football stats.”

And somehow… it works perfectly.

The place is tiny. Cosy if you're being polite. Positively Tetris-like once it gets busy. Yet every inch of wall, shelf and mysterious back cupboard seems dedicated to beer. Looking at the chalkboard menu is like reading the fantasy league table of Essex brewing. IPAs, porters, sours, blondes, ciders… it’s all there in glorious chalk dust. I remain completely baffled as to where they physically store it all. I’m convinced the “pouring closet” out back bends the laws of physics slightly.

Last night’s soundtrack came courtesy of Ally Row, a brilliant folk-rock duo who had travelled all the way from Australia to perform in what is essentially somebody’s extended living room. There’s something wonderfully British about that. Crossing the planet only to end up singing beside a radiator while a bloke named Dave gently spills cider during the chorus.

The Mill in Upminster, Essex, England