About Us

The Friends of the Flaxmill Maltings (Friends) were formed in August 2010 in response to the public consultation and growing interest and enthusiasm for the development of Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings amongst the community.

Our Vision is that:

Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings is brought back to life at the heart of the community.

Our Mission is that:

We will provide opportunities for all to engage with and be inspired by Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings. We will enable current and future generations to appreciate and celebrate their heritage. We will achieve this by providing projects and activities, which encourage learning, recreation, community engagement and employment. In the pursuit of our mission we will abide by our values:

The Friends are a value based organisation and strive to be:

  • Responsive to the needs and aspirations of the community
  • An open, accessible and inclusive organisation encouraging and celebrating our diversity
  • Flexible and innovative in our approach, responding quickly to change
  • Sustainable both economically and environmentally
  • Ethical in our activities and partnerships
  • Actively seeking to maintain and develop partnerships with complementary organisation
Aims
  1. The conservation, preservation and restoration of the buildings known as Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings
  2. To advance the education of the public into the industrial heritage of Shrewsbury and Shropshire with particular reference to the buildings known as Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings,
  3. Within Shrewsbury and surrounding areas, and for the benefit of all members of the community, to provide facilities for social welfare, learning and recreation and leisure-time occupation, to improve the conditions of life in that community,
  4. To promote such other exclusively charitable purposes according to the Laws of England and Wales as the trustees shall think fit.
Objectives
  1. Get the magnificent Main Mill and historic buildings restored and revitalised as a vibrant sustainable entity.
  2. Let people know about the physical and social heritage, excite them, stimulate them to want to learn more while learning ourselves. Develop a Centre of excellence that serves many audiences and demands their attention.
  3. Provide facilities where people experience and learn interact; spend time, which adds value and a sense of wellbeing to all who get to know it.
  4. To provide facilities whereby the local, and wider, community can become engaged with the site through a variety of learning, cultural, recreational and social activities.
  5. Bring investment, jobs, visitors, tourists and regenerate a large part of Shrewsbury and the economy overall.

The Friends are working in partnership with site owners and restoration project leads, Historic England, and with Shropshire Council to find a sustainable solution for the Flaxmill Maltings and the wider site. 

Following the ERDF-funded project to transform the Office and Stables buildings into a Visitor Centre, the Main Mill and Kiln are currently being restored thanks in large part to a grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.  When these buildings open in 2021/22 they will feature four floors of commercial office space, a café, and a state of the art new visitor experience.  The Friends will manage the public and community areas within the site and the associated projects and activities and Historic England will manage the commercial space.  The restoration of this site will be the catalyst for the area’s wider regeneration and Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings will once again become a vitally important local, regional and national landmark.

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