University toasts brewing archive

The archive includes a collection of advertising materials In Pictures:Brewing Archive

A major archive containing records, materials and images of the Scottish brewing industry has been saved for the nation.

Glasgow University will house the several thousand volumes of records and books from Scotland's brewing companies as well as advertising materials.

They include a collection of Tennent's "Lager Lovelies" and brewing equipment.

The decision to gift the collection to the university was made by the board of the Scottish Brewing Archive.

Colin Valentine, board chairman, said: "The brewing industry was radically different when the archive was first set up in 1982.

"However, in spite of the changes in recent years, brewing continues to be important to the people of Scotland.

"It remains a significant part of the country's social and economic fabric and today's companies continue to rely on the archive's fascinating resource material from Scotland's brewing heritage for their marketing campaigns and promotion of their brands.

We are delighted to take responsibility for the preservation of such an historically valuable collection Lesley Richmond University's archive services

"By gifting the archive to the University of Glasgow we are able to guarantee protection for this important part of Scotland's heritage."

Lesley Richmond, director of archive services at the university, said: "Since 1991 the Scottish Brewing Archive has worked in partnership with the university's archive services to manage the archive.

"We are delighted to take responsibility for the preservation of such an historically valuable collection of industrial and entrepreneurial records relating to the history of Scotland.

"Industrial heritage is important to all European countries and has a major impact in several important sectors such as education, cultural tourism and the creative industries."

The brewing artefacts will be added to the university's Scottish Business Archive and the materials will be available to the public, researchers, the media and the industry.