The Beginning

1365

A place in Middlesex called “le Boundes” appears on ancient deeds from the Public Record Office – presumably after the families of John le Bonde and Walter le Bounde, who are mentioned in local records from the 13^th Century.

1400

In the middle ages, ordinary people have diets lacking in calories. Three pints of ale a day is prescribed for men, women – and also children.

1540

Andrew Boorde, a food writer, writes an ode to Cornish ale:

1608

“le Boundes” becomes “Boundsgrene”

1814

On 17^th October 1814, almost 1 and a half million litres of beer bursts out of a brewery in London and gush into the streets. At least 8 people drown.

(The spot where the brewery used to stand is now home to the Dominion Theatre)

1830

Despite there clearly being significant risk of drowning in it, authorities decide that beer is “a more wholesome and temperate beverage” than gin, which is causing havoc in London. So the Beer Act is passed in 1830, which allows more people to sell beer.

1831

Everyone loves the Beer Act – 30,000 more people are now selling beer. One observer writes:

1859

Jerome K. Jerome (Middlesex local and author of “Three Men in a Boat”) describes Southgate as “little more than a country village with round and about it fields and woods.”

1860

Here’s some evidence: