Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings: Smithy and Office

The Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings includes a former smithy and office, built in the early 19th century with alterations made in the late 19th century. The building is currently undergoing repairs and restoration as of 2015. It is part of a former flax mill designed by Charles Bage and was owned and operated by Marshall, Benyon and Bage. The structure was constructed in two main phases between 1796 and 1812, with later additions, and was converted and extended for use as a maltings in 1897-1898.

The building is made of red ‘great’ bricks, which measure approximately 100mm by 110mm by 240mm, and features a gabled roof covered with Welsh slates. A large central ridge stack of brick has been slightly raised.

The smithy and office is rectangular in shape and stands two storeys tall, facing a yard. It has a dentilled eaves cornice on both the west and east elevations. The entrance front on the east side includes a ground-floor entrance to the left and two sash windows, one of which may be original, all set beneath segmental heads. On the first floor, there are four smaller, late-19th century windows positioned to the left of a doorway, with an additional sash window to the right. Access to the upper door was previously provided by an external wooden staircase, which has since been removed. To the far right of the entrance front is a housing for a wall-mounted clock.

The interior has not been inspected as of 2015, but it is understood that the building retains two back-to-back hearths made of ‘great’ bricks, featuring large cast-iron lintels.