HemingwayDesign commissioned to reimagine Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings - Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings
Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings
"Our aim is to bring the site back to life at the heart of the community" © Historic England

HemingwayDesign commissioned to reimagine Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings

5 December 2019

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

Multi-disciplinary designers HemingwayDesign have been commissioned to develop a new brand for the historic Shropshire site, known as the “Grandparent of the skyscraper”

Multi-disciplinary designers HemingwayDesign have been commissioned to create the brand for Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings in Shropshire, one of the most important buildings in England’s industrial past and forerunner to the modern skyscraper.

The Flaxmill site is gradually being brought back to life through a careful restoration and refurbishment process and the new branding will reflect this, whilst helping to put the Flaxmill at the heart of the local community once more.

Front of the Main Mill at Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings, showing the new roof, windows and painted sign.  Scaffolding can be seen being erected on the north and south Engine Houses as part of the second of three construction phases.
Front of the Main Mill at Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings, showing the new roof, windows and painted sign

Hemingway Design has a track record of innovative and engaging place branding.

The team, led by Wayne Hemingway and Jack Hemingway, have experience working with heritage destinations having led the successful relaunch of 19th century amusement park Dreamland in Margate, and more recently being commissioned by City of York Council to create a tourism brand for the City of York.

When we heard that we had won this project the whole team did a joyful dance around the office. The ingredients are all there for a nationally significant project. Flaxmill Maltings is a truly stunning series of historical industrial buildings with such an evocative history and important back story.

Wayne Hemingway of HemingwayDesign

The Flaxmill stands for constant reinvention

HemingwayDesign has been commissioned to create a visionary brand that reflects the revolutionary spirit of the site and its history of ground-breaking innovation.

The Flaxmill embodies over two centuries of setting new standards in engineering, construction and industry. It is a site that has constantly reinvented itself and embraced change.

Its future use as a new learning and enterprise quarter for Shrewsbury, with high quality offices for the region’s growing creative industries, will help drive the town’s renaissance as a regional economic hub, as it was when Shropshire led the way in the Industrial Revolution.

The great thing about this project for us is that Historic England, whilst being incredibly diligent about the regeneration, are ready to be bold and future-facing in their thinking about the next phases of use for the site. Its location in Shrewsbury, a beautiful and vibrant place that’s bucking the trend of town centre decline through its determined independent spirit, completes the recipe.

Wayne Hemingway of HemingwayDesign

After falling into disrepair, Historic England stepped in to stabilise the site and carry out urgent repairs.

Now the restoration of the Grade I listed Main Mill and the Grade II Kiln are now underway thanks to a £20.7m grant from National Lottery players through the National Lottery Heritage Fund, combined with additional funding from the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership via its Growth Deal with Government, and project partners Historic England, Shropshire Council and support from the Friends of the Flaxmill Maltings.

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