Exciting finds at Shrewsbury's Flaxmill
Excavation work at Shrewsbury's Flaxmill Maltings has revealed the base of the enormous chimney stack which was once a prominent feature of the site.
Erected in 1841, the chimney stack would have towered over the Main Mill, which is five storeys high. It was demolished in the late 19th century, when the site was converted into a maltings.
Existing 19th century plans of the site show the existence of a chimney stack on the exterior of the Grade One listed Main Mill structure – the world’s first iron-framed building. However, there was no other known evidence of it until members of the Mansell Family - once business owners in the Ditherington area - shared an old family photograph with site owners, Historic England, and the Friends of the Flaxmill Maltings.
The photograph, taken some time between 1871 and 1896, shows the Main Mill in the background; the old chimney can clearly be seen, along with the original windows which were blocked up during the conversion of the site into a maltings.
The archaeological excavation of the chimney base took place this summer along the Main Mill’s eastern side, prior to work commencing for service and drainage ducts.
The dig, carried out by Historic England, not only revealed the base of the chimney stack, but also evidence of a privy block which stood between the Main Mill’s external wall and the chimney, giving further insight into working conditions of the workers at the flax mill; the excavation revealed that although the flax mill had only basic privy facilities, they did exist and provided toilet facilities to workers on each floor, which was often not the case in mills at that time.
Nick Hill, Historic England’s conservation projects manager, said: “We were due to carry out excavation works before we began digging service trenches, but the Mansell family image prompted us to carry out some archaeological excavation sooner, and we were astonished to have found the base of the chimney stack in such good condition. We can even see the curving flues which led into the base of the chimney stack from the boilers, which provided steam to power the Flaxmill.
"The dig has given us exciting new insights into the history of this site and we are now making plans to include the uncovered chimney base as a permanent feature on site.”
A member of the Mansell family shared the photograph after attending a tour of the Flaxmill Maltings. Members of the family once lived at 83 Spring Gardens; a now demolished row of houses which once sat in the shadow of the Main Mill. Family ties to the site go even further however, when Frank Mansell worked as a carpenter for the former maltings and had a workshop in what is now the visitor centre for more than 20 years.
Susanna Henley, great-granddaughter of one of the men in the photograph said: “As a family we are very excited to share this photograph of our ancestor Henry Mansell with the Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings. The photograph stood on the sideboard of my great-grandparent’s house at and was held by my uncle Stephen Mansell.
"The knowledge that this photograph has supplied additional historical evidence to the restoration team and has led to further excavation is very special to the family. My grandfather, Frank Mansell, worked at the Maltings for many years, and this keeps alive our family connection with the site.”
Alan Mosley, chair of the Friends of the Flaxmill Maltings, said: “The structures unearthed as a result of the archaeological dig and the photograph from the Mansell family are fantastic finds."
In 2005 Historic England (then English Heritage) stepped in to stabilise the building and carry out urgent repairs.
Now, thanks to a £20.7 million grant the restoration of the Grade I listed Main Mill and the Grade II Kiln are underway.
The work is due to be complete in 2021 and the restored Main Mill and Kiln will provide a new visitor experience and learning space and a café.
