Ditherington Flax Mill, Shrewsbury, Shropshire
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The Grade 1 listed Ditherington Flax Mills site contains a number of outstanding listed historic buildings including the oldest surviving iron framed building in the world. Originating from 1797, the buildings have witnessed nearly 200 years of industrial use, firstly as a flax mill, and then from 1884 and following major structural modifications, as a maltings. Many of the attractive architectural features of the site, such as the iron corona on the Flax Mill and the dormers with letting-in doors on the dye house, date from the Victorian period, although most of the key buildings on the site had been constructed by 1805. Following a period of sustained redundancy and several failed attempts to redevelop the site, the Ditherington Flax Mill complex was successfully acquired by English Heritage in 2005, assisted by Shrewsbury & Atcham Borough Council and Advantage West Midlands. The buildings were cleared of debris and a measured survey and structural examination undertaken, leading to some emergency stabilisation works in accordance with guidance established in a conservation management plan. In 2007 English Heritage invited expressions of interest from developers wishing to take forward a regeneration project here, to include refurbishment and reuse of all the historic buildings and the construction of new 'enabling development' to help bridge the conservation deficit likely to be associated with the restoration of the listed buildings. Heritage Works was shortlisted for this development opportunity, in a joint venture with a private sector partner. Unfortunately, the Trust's bid was unsuccessful but discussions have since taken place with the selected developer, Urban Splash, and Heritage Works remains hopeful of securing some future role at this significant historic site. |
Ditherington Flax Mill 
Roof of Ditherington Flax Mill
Interior of Ditherington
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