Originally published in 2016. Retained as part of our early distillery archives.
Change looked likely for us in early 2016 as our landlords began exploring redevelopment plans for the historic Galleon Wharf site — the place that had been our home, our production base, and a key part of Wolverton’s industrial heritage. The question at the time was simple but unsettling: what does the future hold?
Galleon Wharf had played a significant role in Wolverton’s history for more than a century. The site sits beside the Grand Union Canal and has served many purposes over the decades: boat building, rail freight, timber storage, and, more recently, a home to eight independent local businesses supporting more than 30 jobs. It also protects the remains of the original line of the Grand Junction Canal — a route that once descended to the River Ouse via a series of locks before the Iron Trunk Aqueduct was built.
By 2016, the site’s owners were considering replacing the existing buildings with luxury canalside housing. Although no formal planning application had been submitted at that point, pre‑planning discussions with Milton Keynes Council and the Canal & River Trust were already underway, and proposals were at an advanced stage.
If approved, the redevelopment would have displaced all eight businesses on the site. Beyond the economic impact, there were concerns about ecology, conservation, and the visual character of the area. Galleon Wharf sits within a canal conservation zone and is surrounded by scheduled ancient monuments, the Ouse Valley Country Park, and several Grade II listed buildings. Losing the site would have meant losing another piece of local heritage — reduced to a name on a street sign.
At Virtual Orchard and Wharf Distillery, we were already preparing for the worst. We began searching for alternative premises that could offer the same sense of history and character. Suitable sites within Milton Keynes were scarce, with many already converted to offices or housing. Our search soon expanded into Buckinghamshire and Northamptonshire. The thought of Milton Keynes’ (and Buckinghamshire’s) first cidery and distillery being forced to relocate across the border was a difficult one.
This post captures that moment of uncertainty — a time when our future at Galleon Wharf was far from secure. It was a turning point that ultimately shaped the next chapter of our journey.
We did eventually relocate and continue to grow, but this chapter remains an important part of our story and our connection to the heritage of the region.
