The team at Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings have announced a Grant scheme to provide funding to community groups to access the historic site and learn about its heritage and importance.
Running over the course of a year, they will be awarding a total of £20,000 worth of community micro-grants as part of their Activity Plan, which is funded by the Heritage Fund. The individual grants can range from between £200 and £5,000 and will be awarded to local community organisations, charities and groups
Examples of need could include hiring a mini-bus or coach to provide transport to and from the site, activities to support carers and disabled people to visit or learn about the site, lunch for groups who might struggle to pay for it as part of a day out, projects that engage children and families such as workshops or tours or projects that allow groups to learn more about the history of the area.
The Micro-Grant scheme will become available from 3rd January 2024 and will be allocated monthly. For a Guidance document and Application Form please email [email protected]
For more information on the activities for half-term week, or to find out more about Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings, please visit www.shrewsburyflaxmillmaltings.org.uk
· Community Micro-Grants from £200 to £5,000 with a total value of £20,000
· The scheme is part of the Activity Plan, funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund
· The scheme starts in January 2024
· Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings re-opened in September 2023, following a £28 million, eight-year restoration programme.
The History of Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings
Known as the ‘grandparent of skyscrapers’, the Main Mill structure paved the way for modern-day buildings such as London’s Shard, New York’s Empire State Building and Dubai’s Burj Khalifa
Following the site’s beginnings as a flax mill and major local employer for the area from 1797-1886, it was repurposed into a modern maltings, which operated from 1897 to 1987, converting grain into malt for brewing, whisky making and vinegar production. The site was also used as a temporary army barracks during the Second World War.
The site has been sustainably restored by Historic England in partnership with Shropshire Council and the Friends of the Flaxmill Maltings, funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, The Marches Local Enterprise Partnership via its Growth Deal with Government and Shropshire Council.
Four of the eight listed buildings that make up the site – the Smithy, Stables, Main Mill and Kiln – are now fully restored, following redevelopment under Historic England’s ownership with the help of architects Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios,
The four remaining listed buildings – the Cross Mill, the Dye House, Apprentice House and the Warehouse – still need funding to bring them back to life. It is hoped that they will be restored in the coming years, once plans for how they will be used and funding to carry out the restoration works are in place.
