www.flaxmill-maltings.co.uk                          info@flaxmill-maltings.co.uk


Newsletter  

Issue: 25                                                                            October 2015

First Phase of Regeneration Nears Completion

The first stage in saving what is a unique site for future generations is nearing completion with the opening of the interactive visitor experience and education facility next month.

Historic England, previously known as English Heritage, took over the site in 2005 in order to halt its decline, making sure these important buildings are secure and weather-tight. Working in partnership with the Friends and Shropshire Council, the site is steadily being revived. Regeneration was kick-started by the Department for Communities and Local Government who awarded a funding package of £1.17m through the European Regional Development Fund.

Stage one has seen the conversion of the office and stables which will be managed by the Friends as a visitor centre, including reception, interpretation displays, film and audio material, research and learning resources. The 1950s silo was also demolished, providing pleasant open space for cultural, interpretation and public use.

Alan Mosley, Chair, Friends of the Flaxmill Maltings, says: “Our aim is to bring the site back to life at the heart of the community and hence we are delighted to have played such a prominent role in achieving this first stage towards that ambition. This success is testament to the hard work of many volunteers and the enthusiasm of the local and wider community for this exciting project.”

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Heritage Open Days


We had a fantastic Heritage open weekend in early September, thanks to all who came and helped to make it such a successful event. 

We had about 800 people through the gates. Here are a few images from the weekend. 












 
 
 
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Come and Visit us - It's Free!

The new visitor centre will chart the Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings history, along with the story of its engineering, architectural and social legacy. The Friends will manage the visitor centre, which will open to the public from the 25th of November.



The centre will bring together for the first time interpretations of the Mill’s role in the industrial revolution and the pioneers who made it happen, including:

  • Details on how flax was processed, from the field to the end product, which include a myriad of items from ship sails to playing cards
  • The impact of the building’s revolutionary iron frame on the world of architecture

  • Details of the mill’s machinery and technology

  • Working conditions at the mill, including child labour

  • The change of use from Flaxmill to Maltings and the malting process

 

There will also be a short animated film that visitors can watch which charts the history of the building and its people, as well as oral history recollections of people who worked at the Maltings and who were barracked there during the last war.


Visitor Centre Opening Times    
 


Initially the Centre will be open for the whole week from the 25th of November to the 1st of December, 10 am to 3 pm daily.

Opening times are then as follows:

  • 2 December 2015 - 26 March 2016, Saturdays only, 10 am to 4 pm

  • 31 March 2016 – 29 October 2016, Friday, Saturday, Sunday 10 am to 4 pm

  • Closed 25 - 26 December and 1 - 3 January

 



 
Volunteer for the Friends 

The Friends is a charity organisation, and we rely on volunteers to carry out our work
 

  


We always have space for more volunteers, whether it's to sit on our advisory committee to help make decisions about our operations, or to work on tracing social histories of families who have worked at the Mill. 

Currently we are also recruiting people to help with the day to day running of the new Visitor Centre. 

If you feel you could offer us some time, even if it's as little as 4 hours per month, please email  us at info@flaxmill-maltings.co.uk. 

 


The Friends' Blog

We now have a blog!
Please follow us for updates and news items here:

 


Monday Drum Workshops at Flaxivity

with Olugbala Kokumo!

Every Monday, 7 to 9pm

For more information contact:
Olugbala Kokumo
Author, Composer & Facilitator
07403547153
olugbalakokumo@yahoo.co.uk

 
The Friends are supported by:


 
The visitor Centre is part funded by:
 
          
 
Copyright © 2014 Friends of the Flaxmill Maltings*, All rights reserved.



Email: richard@flaxmill-maltings.co.uk
Website: www.flaxmill-maltings.co.uk


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