Ditherington Flax Mill facts for kids
The Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings is a very special building in Shrewsbury, England. It used to be a flax mill, which is a factory where flax plants were processed to make linen thread. What makes this building famous is that it was the world's first building to use an iron frame. This means it had a strong metal skeleton, much like modern skyscrapers do today!
Because of its iron frame, it's often called the "grandfather of skyscrapers". Even though it's only about five stories tall, it was a huge step forward in how buildings were made. In the 1950s, it became a Grade I listed building. This means it's a very important historical building that needs to be protected. Today, Historic England is working to restore the site, so public access is limited.
The mill was designed by an architect named Charles Bage. He got the idea for the iron frame from another engineer, William Strutt. The strong iron columns and beams were made by William Hazledine in his factory in Shrewsbury. The building was constructed between 1796 and 1797. It cost about £17,000 at the time, which included all the equipment needed for the mill.
Today, you can visit a special visitor centre at the Flaxmill Maltings. It's located in what used to be the office and stables. The centre is open on Saturdays from November to March. From April to October, it's open on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Remember, access to the main site is still limited because of the ongoing restoration work. You can also take guided tours of the mill on Heritage Open Days in early to mid-September. These tours are led by the Friends of the Flaxmill Maltings.
Images for kids
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West side of the Main Mill c.2002 prior to restoration.
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North-east side of the mill in June 2013 showing the scaffolding with white plastic sheeting for the restoration. Taken from the junction of St Michael's Street and Sultan Road.
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The mill in snow in December 2017 from the junction of St Michael's Street and Sultan Road.
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South-east side in snow in December 2017 taken from Marshalls Court.
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West side of the site in snow, December 2017. Taken from Hencote Lane, Shrewsbury.
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South-east side of the Main Mill facing Marshalls Court on a Heritage Open Day in September 2018. The white plastics sheets overhead have been removed following restoration of the roof.
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Restoration work on the top floor of the Main Mill in September 2018 with the work on the windows.
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West side of the Main Mill in September 2018.
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East side facing the junction of St Michael's Street and Sultan Road in December 2018 after the scaffolding was removed for the first time in about twelve years.
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West side of the site in December 2018. Taken from Hencote Lane, Shrewsbury.
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The Visitor Centre in the former office block (smithy in the flax mill era).
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The former stables forming part of the Visitor Centre.
See also
In Spanish: Molino de Lino de Ditherington para niños
