Shrewsbury's Flaxmill edges closer to becoming hub again as scaffolding removed

Shrewsbury's Flaxmill Maltings in Ditherington has just had the scaffolding removed from the pyramid-roofed kiln, which has been in place since March 2019.

Restoration of the kiln, one of the largest in Europe, is part of an extensive multi million pound revamp of the site to turn it into offices. Historic England is aiming to maintain much of the site's heritage in a nod to its industrial past.

Built in 1797, the site had two centuries of use, first as a flax mill, then a maltings and also as a training centre and barracks during World War II.

The Grade II listed kiln was added in 1898 as part of the site’s conversion. Henry Stopes, who was a leading authority on malt and malting was brought in to offer design advice and adapt the site to its new use. Functioning as a maltings for almost a century, the business closed down in 1987 after which the kiln, and the other historic buildings, fell into decline.

As part of the regeneration, the kiln is being converted into a new atrium entrance for commercial tenants. From the kiln, businesses that will call the Flaxmill Maltings home will be able to access their offices on the upper four floors of the Main Mill via a new lift and purpose-built walkways.

To bring the future vision for the kiln to life, in early 2019 complex internal scaffold and shoring support to the building was put in place. Work then began on deconstructing the distinctive pyramid roof which had been stripped of roof slates in 1987 leaving only a temporary felt roof. This led to significant damage to the roof’s steel and timber structures meaning it all needed to be replaced.

In July 2019 the new steel roof structure was successfully installed, using a huge crane to lift the heavy steel beams.  Following this, the new timber roof rafters were put in place and the new skylight at the very top of the roof was installed. By the end of this year 7,200 new

Welsh slates from Penrhyn Quarry, the last major source of Welsh slate, will have been used to create the kiln’s new roof.

Inside the kiln, new steelwork for the lift shaft and walkways has been put in. The concrete vaulting around the sides - a 1960s replacement of the original brick vaults – was in very poor condition and is being replaced. There have also been lots of careful repairs to the walls with matching brickwork inside and out.

Alastair Godfrey, Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings project lead for Historic England, said: “After being hidden behind scaffolding for since 2019, it’s fantastic to see the pyramid-roofed kiln revealed. The highly skilled carpenters, roofers and craftsmen of our contractor Croft Building and Construction Ltd. really have done an incredible job bringing this building back to life.

"During the malting era, the kiln was a hub of busy daily activity as it will be once again when it becomes the main entrance for the commercial tenants, providing a breath-taking view when people first set foot in the building.”

Alan Mosley, chairman of the Friends of the Flaxmill Maltings, added: “Now that the scaffolding is down, it’s fantastic that the local community and the ex-maltsters can once again see the pyramid-roof and the 1898 frontage. Each part of the Main Mill and Kiln that are restored brings us closer to opening and to Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings being once again at the heart of the community.”

The revitalised site will become a new learning and enterprise quarter for Shrewsbury, with offices for the region’s creative industries.