IT'S that time of year where you can expect to see blooming wisteria around the UK. And there is an usual place to spot the purple flower which is actually world famous. Fuller's Griffin Brewery, in Chiswick, is named London's Landmark Brewery having launched ales back in 1845.
And surprisingly, the entire building is covered in wisteria . But the flower isn't native to the UK, having been introduced to the UK back in the 19th century . Chief Inspector of Tea at Canton in China John Reeves brought cutting of the flower to the UK in 1816.
By 1819, the flowers were blossoming and have since spread over the entire country, and then the rest of the world, including France and Germany . The website says: "Here, at the Griffin Brewery, we have another large, purple sign to tell us that [summer is coming] - our wisteria. "This beautiful smelling purple genus has been creeping up the side of our brewery walls since 1816, making it officially the oldest in England .
"It began life as one of two saplings brought over from China, and was planted outside what used to be the Head Brewer's cottage. "The other sapling was taken to Kew Gardens up the road, where it didn't have as much success taking root and died soon after. "So the folks at Kew came back for a cutting of ours to regrow their own, meaning our great climber has reached the heady heights of a royal garden!" If you want to see the wisteria you can see it from the outside.
And you can set up a tour of the brewery, which takes ar.
