Ditherington Flaxmill and Maltings

Image: © Stephen Craven Taken: 16 Oct 2022

The main building was built in 1796-1800 as a flax spinning mill with later additions and alterations. The location was chosen adjacent to the new Shrewsbury Canal that ran in front of the building). It was converted to a maltings in 1897-8, which closed in 1987. The canal had closed in 1939 and been filled in. Bought by English Heritage in 2005 to save it for the nation, restoration and conversion is still in progress but it will eventually be 'a community and economic hub for Shrewsbury'. This will feature a 'bivalent' heating system with a ground source heat pump designed to provide 69% of energy usage for the Main Mill and Kiln, with the remainder provided by natural gas boilers. Image shows it at an early stage of the conversion process. The main building is listed grade I (list entry 1270576) among other reasons for the pioneering use of an iron structure for a multi-storeyed building, and as an exceptionally early survival from the first generation of steam-powered textile mills. The smaller malt kiln of 1897 to the right is separately listed grade II (entry 1428732). There will be housing in front of the mill that will eventually obscure this view from the road.

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