IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Marshalls Court, SHREWSBURY, SY1 2HX

The Flax Mill buildings are impressive in height and scale - their cast iron framing and concrete construction enabling them to attain many storeys in height at a time when older wooden based, stone or even brick construction had obvious limits.

The concrete and cast iron framing method of construction can be seen in this massive wall. Still a familiar sight on modern bridges, large buildings and civil engineering projects nationwide.

The Smithy and Offices were built around the early 19th century of 'Red Great' brick, with a Welsh slate roof. Some alterations were made later in that same century, probably including a larger chimney for the back-to-back fires inside and presumably the smithy hearth. This building was Grade II listed https://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/101254901-ditherington-flax-mill-smithy-and-office-shrewsbury#.WzMsG9JKhPY in 1987, and was one of the first on site to be substantially restored in 2015 onwards as part of the site works that are still ongoing in 2018.

These buildings, in the process of becoming part of the Visitor Centre for the extensive Flax Mill restoration project, are the former stables on site, and were Grade II listed https://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/101254856-ditherington-flax-mill-stables-and-remains-of-packing-warehouse-shrewsbury#.WzCMT6dKhPY in 1987. The 'packing mill' referred to in the listing details is just offshot to the left, but was more or less completely demolished in the late 1970s.

More modern buildings on the flax mill site, which was converted to maltings in 1897, closing in 1987. The original buildings are mostly grade I listed. This lane seems quite old, it went nowhere except water meadows, but now is part of a cycle and footpath system.

Looking good.

Some old surviving gubbings from the workings of the old maltings. Here men swore, spat and gossiped, complained and bantered where tourists now tread, peer and poke.

Sadly demolished in the late 1970s, the Packing House was the place where finished goods from the Flax Mill factory were packed and despatched - the 6 bricked-up openings in the wall behind the cars are just about all that survives to tell the tale. That wall was Grade II listed https://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/101254856-ditherington-flax-mill-stables-and-remains-of-packing-warehouse-shrewsbury#.WzCWvqdKhPY in 1987, along with the Image just off to the right here.

The three-storey Stove House dates from before 1810, and was probably built as part of the original construction of the flax mill, as it was used for drying materials after they'd been dyed in the attached Dye House. Both were Grade II* listed https://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/101270566-ditherington-flax-mill-dyehouse-and-stove-house-shrewsbury#.WzMpj9JKhPY in 1987, and are currently (2018) in the process of renovation under the auspices and guidance of Historic England.

Impressive.