THERE was an outcry when it was announced that Newcastle Brown Ale was no longer going to be brewed at the Tyne Brewery in Newcastle and moved south of the river to Gateshead.

Drinkers felt it was being shifted from its rightful home. Even academics at Newcastle University said it was removing one of the cultural building blocks that makes a Geordie.

But in fact the origins of North-East brown ales started south of the river in Whickham so moving to the nearby Federation Brewery in Dunston is something of a homecoming.

The story began in the cellar of the Georgian family home of land-owning farmers more than 250 years ago.

John Barras's hobby of brewing at Whickham Hall became so popular with locals that he turned it into a small business.

Customers drank the mother of all brown ales from clay jugs to bring good cheer and the building became known as The Whaggs.

He died in 1750, but the tradition continued. His son, also John Barras, inherited his fathers admiration of ale and in 1770 - aged 25 - set up a brewing partnership with William Johnston, of Gateshead.

By the end of the 18th Century the Barras family had all moved from Whickham to the Ravensworth Estate, near Lamesley in Gateshead.

His son, John Junior, continued to develop the business. By 1838 the Gateshead brewery was an enormous operation.

Newcastle Breweries was formed on April 1, 1890 after five beer companies agreed to amalgamate and formed the five points of the famous blue star.

They were John Barras' Tyne Brewery, the JJ Allison Brewery of North Shields, the WH Allison Brewery in Monkwearmouth, Carr Bros and Carr of North Shields and wine and spirit merchants Swinburne and Company.

By 1900 Northern Breweries Corporation controlled more than 300 licensed premises. It was not until 1927 that Colonel Jim Porter created Newcastle Brown Ale - or dog.

And while it became an internationally recognised brand synonymous with the city its origins lie south of the River Tyne.

Today, the Barras family live back at The Whaggs, now known as Whickham Lodge, and the building is a tribute to their inspirational forefathers with busts and portraits of John Barras as well as maps of the old breweries.

It is about to be put on the property market, meaning someone has got the chance to own a piece of Tyneside's heritage.

Jennifer Barras, husband of Bill, who is eight generations down the line from John Barras, the original brewer, said: "I have found it very exciting to live a building of such importance. It has got a fantastic history and I am honoured to have been able to enjoy it.

"It would be wonderful to think John Barras is looking down on us and seeing what he has achieved."