Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings: Smithy and Office

Former smithy and office, early C19 with late-C19 alterations. Undergoing repairs and restoration (2015). Part of a former flax mill designed by Charles Bage, and owned and operated by Marshall, Benyon and Bage. Constructed in two major phases of 1796-7 and between 1809 and 1812, with later additions and alterations. Converted and extended to a maltings in 1897-8.

MATERIALS: constructed of red ‘great’ (measuring approximately 100mm x 110mm x 240mm) bricks under a gabled roof of Welsh slates with a large central ridge stack of brick which has been slightly raised.

PLAN: it is rectangular on plan.

EXTERIOR: it is a two-storey building fronting onto a yard with a dentilled eaves cornice to the west and east elevations. The entrance (east) front has a ground-floor entrance to the left and two sash windows, one possibly original, all under segmental heads. To the first floor are four smaller, late-C19 windows which are positioned to the left of a doorway, and there is a further sash window to the right. This upper door was approached from an external wooden staircase which has been removed. To the far right is the housing for a wall-mounted clock.

INTERIOR: not inspected, 2015. It is understood that the building retains its two, back-to-back hearths which are built of ‘great’ bricks and have large cast-iron lintels.

This list entry was subject to a Minor Amendment on 2 March 2023 to amend the description