This week we tell the tale of two brothers who left a legacy that not only put Herefordshire on the map but centuries later is still going strong. It all started in a little rectory in Credenhill around 1830. The rector and his wife had two sons Fred and Percy who enjoyed all that country life had to offer. Fred was sociable, gregarious and fun while his younger brother Percy was quite shy, more reserved, a deep thinker. Although the boys were very different in character they had an amazing bond, one that would endure throughout their lives.
Fred headed off to University in Cambridge to read classics but due to ill health as a child Percy’s education had suffered so he remained in Herefordshire. Percy pondered his future and after much thinking and useful advice from his mother he decided to use the knowledge and resources he had on his doorstep. During his time in Herefordshire Percy’s father had become an authority on orcharding and apple and pear production. On his arrival to Herefordshire the rector had witnessed the sad demise of the county’s orchards and sought to begin a revival and it was the rectory’s very own ‘Glebe Orchard’ that inspired Percy to embark on his journey as a cider maker.
Percy started off small, he borrowed a neighbour’s old mill and used the family pony to produce his first batch of golden nectar. Every spare moment that Fred had away from University he would spend supporting Percy in his new venture and before long a year had passed. Their endeavours had been so successful that it was time to move operations to Hereford city. For the sum of £350 Percy’s father purchased an acre of land in Ryelands Street and raised a further sum to build a shack where Percy and Fred could work from. And from humble beginnings the seeds of a cider factory were sewn, not one of them knowing what the future had in store. That their venture would eventually make them one of the biggest cider producers in the world.
As things continued to go well Fred decided to leave University and join Percy who was now working very long days and living in the shack on site. Their mother would send them supper and a local cottager Thomas would bring them tea and snippets of food. Times were hard and money scarce but the two brothers persevered despite being on the edge of financial collapse on a few occasions. Fred used his connections and friendships from University to secure investment, however not all those who were considered ‘friends’ turned out to be that as the brothers soon found out.
The time had come for Percy and Fred to expand their business, they had assessed that they needed two more acres to comfortably allow them to grow and meet demand. So they discussed their plans over lunch one day with the family solicitor. He was also their uncle by marriage and highly regarded by their parents. After the lunch the solicitor approached the vendor and purchased the ten acres surrounding Percy and Fred’s land, not to help them it later transpired, but in his own words ‘to bleed them dry’.
Percy offered him a fair price for the two acres he needed but was met with a clear refusal. However events were to turn in Percy’s favour, for the solicitor and the vendor both died the same night. The contract for sale of the land had to be taken over and luckily this afforded Percy the opportunity to purchase the land with very favourable mortgage terms. After two years Percy sold off three acres of the land, cleared his mortgage and had plenty of land left for further expansion.
The Bulmer’s empire grew, the brothers worked exceptionally well together both playing to their strengths and skills. Fred became the travelling salesman while Percy concentrated on growing the business. They experimented with flavours, travelled the continent in search of new methods and skills and began purchasing fruit from other local orchards to meet the demand for their cider.
The rest as they say is history, generations of the Bulmer family followed and household names were born, Woodpecker, Strongbow and Pomagne to name a few. You might be interested to know too that in recent years the team at Bulmers produced a special one off cider and perry for the Beer on the Wye festival. Made using the same artisan methods that Percy and Fred would have used in their early days of production.
Bulmers or ‘Boomers’ as it is affectionately known is a wonderful part of Herefordshire history and heritage which should be celebrated. Let’s all raise a glass this weekend to Percy and Fred, a glass of cider of course!