First Stage of Project to Save Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings Complete

9 November 2015

Please note, this release was written before Covid-19. The opening date for Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings is now 2022.

Please note: The visitor centre mentioned in this release is now closed and a new visitor experience will be opening in 2022.

• Internationally important historic site brought back to life with new exhibition and visitor centre opening to the public
• Open permanently to visitors for the first time
• The world’s first iron framed building- the ‘father of the skyscraper’

One of the most important historic buildings in the world, Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings, is being brought back to life with the launch of a visitor centre thanks to a £2.3 million regeneration project supported by Historic England and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). 

Situated on the northern edge of Shrewsbury, the internationally-important and revolutionary Flaxmill Maltings is home to the world’s first iron framed building – a forerunner to the modern day skyscraper – and was instrumental in helping to change the world of construction and design.

The mill’s role in the industrial revolution

The first stage in saving this unique site for future generations has been completed with the opening of an interactive visitor experience and education facility.  The new visitor centre will chart the site’s history, along with the story of its engineering, architectural and social legacy.

Visitor centre preview and public opening

The visitor centre, which will be managed by the Friends of the Flaxmill Maltings(opens in a new window), will open for a special preview to invited guests, followed by a community open event, on Tuesday 24 November 2015, before opening officially to the public on Wednesday 25 November 2015.

The centre will bring together for the first time interpretations of the mill’s role in the industrial revolution and the pioneers who made it happen, including:

• details on how flax was processed, from the field to the end product, which include a myriad of items from ship sails to playing cards
• the impact of the building’s revolutionary iron frame on the world of architecture
• details of the mill’s machinery and technology
• working conditions at the mill, including child labour
• the change of use from Flaxmill to Maltings and the malting process

There will also be a short animation film that visitors can watch which charts the history of the building and its people, as well as well as oral history recollections of people who worked at the Maltings and who were barracked there during the last war.

Working together to secure the future of an internationally important heritage site

Historic England took over the site in 2005 in order to halt its decline, making sure these important buildings are secure and weather-tight. Working in partnership with the Friends of the Flaxmill Maltings and Shropshire Council, the site is steadily being revived. Regeneration was kick-started by the Department for Communities and Local Government who awarded a funding package of £1.17m through the European Regional Development Fund.

Stage one has seen the conversion of the office and stables which will be managed by the Friends of the Flaxmill Maltings as a visitor centre, including reception, interpretation displays, film and audio material, research and learning resources.  The 1950s silo was also demolished, providing pleasant open space for cultural, interpretation and public use.

As well as managing the visitor centre, the Friends of the Flaxmill Maltings will also provide guided tours of the historic buildings so that organisations, groups and individuals can explore, learn, participate in and enjoy the unique and varied heritage. The Friends are also carrying out a research project which has uncovered the fascinating stories of the people who worked at the Flaxmill, even tracing a number of their descendants, some of whom still live in the Shrewsbury area.  They are also soon to commence working on education facilities and resources for use by schools and colleges.

A complex and important development

Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings changed the world of construction and design with its revolutionary iron frame and I am delighted to be able to announce the completion of the first stage of its revival with the opening of the visitor centre.

For the first time on a day to day basis visitors will be able to come and find out more about the fascinating history of this site. But, there is still much more to do, and we will continue to work in partnership with the Friends, funders and Shropshire Council to make sure this incredibly important piece of international heritage has a sustainable future worthy of its past.”

Duncan Wilson, Chief Executive
Historic England

The completion of Phase One will also hopefully be the catalyst for the area’s wider economic and social regeneration and the site will once again become a vitally important local landmark.

Our aim is to bring the site back to life at the heart of the community and hence we are delighted to have played such a prominent role in achieving this first stage towards that ambition.  This success is testament to the hard work of many volunteers and the enthusiasm of the local and wider community for this exciting project.

Alan Mosley
Chair, Friends of the Flaxmill Maltings

This is a hugely complex project, but the completion of phase one – and the creation of a visitor centre – is a significant and important development, and is excellent news.

Councillor Mal Price
Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member with responsibility for the Flaxmill Maltings

New research by Historic England

To coincide with the opening of the Visitor Centre, Historic England has published Ditherington Mill and the Industrial Revolution edited by Colum Giles and Mike Williams (978-1-84802-118-1).

This book presents new research into Ditherington Mill, the world’s first iron-framed fireproof building and highlights crucial developments in engineering, the textile industry and business practices during the Industrial Revolution.