Ditherington Flax Mill Maltings in Shrewsbury secures initial Heritage Lottery Fund support
A bid for £12.1m of funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) to support the conservation and redevelopment of Shrewsbury’s historic Flax Mill Maltings has received initial support from the HLF. The bid was submitted by a partnership including Shropshire Council, English Heritage and the Friends of the Flax Mill Maltings in November 2011.
The HLF has today (Friday 11 May 2012) announced that the bid has secured a ‘first-round pass’, and that development funding of £465,300 has been awarded. This funding is to be used to develop more detailed plans for the regeneration of the Flax Mill Maltings, before a second round bid is submitted to HLF within the next 18 months in the hope of securing a further £11,686,000 of funding.
If secured, this funding would be put towards the first phase of the redevelopment of the site, which aims to restore and bring back into use some of the main historic buildings on the site – including the Main Mill, the Kiln, the Dye and Stove House and the Office and Stables. The site would be opened up to allow people to visit and learn about its long and interesting history, and space would be provided for business and commercial use.
Built on the northern edge of Shrewsbury, the Ditherington Flax Mill Maltings site includes many buildings of historic interest, including the internationally-important Main Mill. Built in 1797 this is the world’s first cast-iron framed building and is the forerunner of the modern skyscraper.
Despite its global importance, the mill had been lying empty since 1987 and had fallen into a state of dangerous neglect and decay. In 2005 English Heritage acquired the derelict buildings to halt this decline, and since then emergency repairs have ensured the buildings are secure, wind and weathertight.
Councillor Keith Barrow, leader of Shropshire Council, said:
“This is fantastic news and means that we have cleared the first hurdle in our bid for the funding that would enable us to make a start on bringing this extraordinary site back to life, and into a third century of productive use. The application was in competition with other projects, and we were the only bid in the West Midlands to secure a first round pass, which is great news for Shropshire and a welcome endorsement of our outline proposals. “
Alan Mosley, Shropshire Councillor for Castlefields and Ditherington, and Chair of the Friends of the Flax Mill Maltings, said:
“This is tremendous news and we are proud of the role we have played in making it happen. We now have the money to develop our capacity so that we can do even more in providing restoration, access, community involvement, learning and a whole range of activities which will bring these wonderful buildings to life again. We also look forward to taking a leading role in ensuring success in the next phase which will truly protect the heritage and rejuvenate the area. Many thanks go to all the volunteers and others whose enthusiasm and efforts have achieved so much.”
Reyahn King, Head of HLF West Midlands, said:
“Ditherington Flax Mill is of international importance, reflecting a time when Britain led the way in engineering innovation. As an early prototype for contemporary architecture, the mill was a forerunner of the skyscrapers that are now such a familiar backdrop to city life. The Heritage Lottery Fund is pleased to be giving its initial support for phase one of wider plans which have the potential to transform the site into a centre for learning, leisure and social enterprise.”
Chris Smith, English Heritage’s National Planning Director, said:
“The Ditherington Flax Mill is one of the most significant monuments of the Industrial Revolution – an outstanding structure that changed the world of construction and design. With the vital help of the HLF, we are now one step closer to bringing the site and its buildings back into use so once again, they can be a thriving local resource, bringing new life to the surrounding area.”
Mal Price, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for economic growth and prosperity, said:
“It’s great news that we have been awarded this funding to help put together a detailed development plan. We’ll now work hard on this, to give us the best possible chance of securing the full amount of funding, which would allow us to start work on the restoration of these internationally important buildings.”
English Heritage acquired the derelict buildings in 2005, and has since been working with Shropshire Council, the Homes and Communities Agency, the Friends of the Flax Mill Maltings and architects Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios, to find a new use for the site. The goal is to create a long-term future for the historic buildings and for the community of which they have so long been a part.
Additional information
1) *A first-round pass means the project meets HLF criteria for funding and HLF believes the project has potential to deliver high-quality benefits and value for Lottery money. The application was in competition with other supportable projects, so a first-round pass is an endorsement of our outline proposals. Having been awarded a first-round pass, the project now has up to two years to submit fully developed proposals to compete for a firm award.
On occasion, an applicant with a first-round pass will also be awarded development funding towards the development of their scheme.
2) English Heritage acquired the derelict buildings in 2005, and has since been working with a steering group made up of Shropshire Council, the Homes and Communities Agency, the Friends of the Flax Mill Maltings and architects of the scheme Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios, to find a new use for the site. The goal is to create a long-term future for the historic buildings and for the community of which they have so long been a part.
3) The Friends of the Flax Mill Maltings will continue to play a pivotal role in developing the project. With objectives based on restoration, access, community involvement and learning the Friends has now grown, over the last two years, to have over 800 members and is based on the work of volunteers. The first round approval from HLF will provide them with revenue for the appointment of a manager and to undertake a number of heritage related community activities alongside research and education projects. This capacity building will enable the Friends to take full responsibility for the areas designated for public access and other activities as described in the proposals. For more information on the Friends go to: http://www.flaxmill-maltings.co.uk
4) About the Heritage Lottery Fund
Using money raised through the National Lottery, the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) sustains and transforms a wide range of heritage for present and future generations to take part in, learn from and enjoy. From museums, parks and historic places to archaeology, natural environment and cultural traditions, we invest in every part of our diverse heritage. HLF has supported over 30,000 projects, allocating £4.9billion across the UK. website: www.hlf.org.uk. For further information, please contact Katie Owen, HLF Press Office, on tel: 0207 591 6036/07973 613820.
