OC’s Visit to Westons Cider Mill, Herefordshire  3rd August 2022

Some years ago we co-opted the famous Monty Python Phrase “And now for something completely different” to exemplify the highly varied venues selected for our O.C.’s trips.

      After comparatively recent visits to local Historic Buildings, the Stately Home and Estate of one of the world’s richest dynasties, a Classic Car factory,  a Vineyard,  Horse Racing, the Queen’s Gardens, and a Castle, the trip to a Cider Mill was certainly something different again.

A prompt 9.15 departure from the school with an initial nine travellers on board Turners coach preceded a short drive along the M5 to Stonehouse, where a further eleven tourists joined us, before moving on to the excellent Gloucester Services for a coffee and cake in the lakeside café.

      A major accident, just north of Cheltenham had led to the M5 being closed, which necessitated a diversion around Gloucester, and along the B road via Newent, and passing the Three Choirs vineyard.  In truth, a much more scenic route through very pleasant countryside.

The initial impression of Westons establishment is one of sheer size.  Covering, at a guess, 7 or 8 acres, the warehouse size sheds which house the processing machinery and the oak vats, plus the external 120 huge stainless steel maturing tanks are visible from the road, 2 to 3 miles distant.  Surrounding the Mill are over 100 acres of Westons cider apple orchards, including 43 organic.  To meet demand, apples are also sourced from a large number of smaller growers, but within a fifty mile radius of Much Marcle.

Our Tour commenced in the original farmhouse where local farmer Henry Weston started making cider in 1880. Five generations later the business is still run by the Weston family, from the same site.     Our guide, Jenny, showed some interesting photographs of the early days, before moving to an adjacent room, with a slide and video presentation illustrating the sequences and processes of cider making, much of which we were to see for ourselves during the subsequent Mill tour.

Apples are harvested, in the bigger orchards, by a tree shaker (a tractor mounted vibrating ram), and then picked up mechanically, or by hand.

     On delivery to the Mill, the apples are deposited in a vast collection trough, before washing and removal of leaves and twigs, then transferred to the crusher to produce pulp.  This is then stacked and pressed to extract the juice, which is filtered through a very strong nylon mesh.  This part of the production cycle can process up to 40 tons of apples per hour.

    Nothing is wasted. The leaves and other debris are converted into cattle feed, or fertiliser, while some of the skins are used to make carbon dioxide for the “fizzy” varieties.  Even the used water is channelled via reed and gravel filter beds to Westons’ lakes just to east of the Mill.  Apart from creating a haven for wildlife, the water is used for irrigating the orchards, and added to the fact that Westons have their own borehole and spring, demand on the local mains supply is kept to a minimum.

The juice is then transferred to the huge steel tanks, or in the case of organic and vintage, to the large oak vats, 40 in number and claimed to be the biggest in Europe, varying in capacity from 4 thousand gallons and above.  The vats are individually named after members of the Weston family, their favourite football teams, cartoon characters, while three of the oldest and smallest are endorsed Hereford, Worcester, and Gloucester, which illustrates the long standing rivalry of this region, with their competitors in Somerset and Devon.

The maturing and fermentation process can vary between a few weeks to two years, and at various stages, yeast, sugars, sulphites, and even fruit are added, plus the mixing and blending of the many types of apple.  This is where the knowledge and expertise of the master cider maker comes to the fore, to produce the quality and variety of ciders of todays’ market.

            The final processes are filtration to convert cloudy into clear cider, then bottling, canning or kegging, before shipping to the customer.

Other interesting observations during the tour were Henry Westons original press, - an inverted stone mill wheel rotated in a circular stone trough, operated in a similar manner to a horse gin.  Probably the highlight for our youngest tourist, Jenson, was the sight of one of Westons magnificent horses, harnessed to its’ dray, just leaving the stable. While no longer used for deliveries, they feature at agricultural shows, and local events, and can even be hired for weddings and similar celebratory occasions.

         The finale to the tour was the very welcome, especially on a warm sunny day, sampling session. We were able to try Old Rosie ( a cloudy cider ), Vintage, Organic,  Rhubarb flavoured, and a pear cider.  Opinions varied, but the first three appeared to be the favourites of the O.C. party.

In addition to the size of the Much Marcle operation, which now employs over 200 people, the clearly evident massive investment in plant and machinery is testament to Westons major contribution to the huge expansion and popularity of the cider market in the U.K. and abroad (Westons now export to over 40 countries).   The C.& C. conglomerate with long established brands such as Blackthorn, Magners, Bulmers, Gaymers, and Natch is still the dominant player, however Westons, and its Somerset rival Thatchers (also a rapidly expanding family run enterprise ) have been substantial contributors to market growth with an innovative range and variety of products, which is clearly appealing to a more diverse and growing customer base.  In fact, three of Westons ciders – Vintage, Organic and Stowford Press were voted in the Top Five favourite ciders in a recent independent poll.

 The O.C. party then adjourned to the very pleasant “ Scrumpy House Restaurant “ for a nourishing ploughman’s lunch, with an optional supplement of a choice of three 250ml. glasses of Westons most popular ciders.

       There was just time for a visit to the nearby Cider Shop for a souvenir or two, before re-joining our coach for the return to Colston’s.

        The M5 having re-opened, our homeward journey took in the picturesque market town of Ledbury, on to the motorway, Stonehouse Services, and arriving at the School in good time to beat the commuter traffic.

Thanks are due, yet again, to Bob and Tracy for organising an immensely interesting and enjoyable day, also Doug for his professional photographs, superbly capturing the event.

Tourists on the trip –

Len and Katy Collacott                                       Doug and Sue Lodge

Fred Forse                                                             Tracy, Lizzie, and Jenson

Alan Hale                                                               Rachel Shaw

Nick and Jane Humphries                                   Dave Tooze

Jerry Hurley                                                           John and Marilyn Wright

Bob and Wendy Jennings                                    Mike and Maureen Wood

Dave Tooze   Aug 22