Colouring the coronet

Local people are being encouraged to make the most of the opportunity to get up close to the highest point of Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings – the cast iron coronet, before it is put back in its rightful place at the top of the building.

The coronet was added in 1897 to celebrate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee and has been an integral part of the Flaxmill Maltings since that time. Earlier this year it was taken down by Historic England as part of a crowdfunding campaign, as it was in urgent need of repair. The restoration work was put in the expert hands of local business Heritage Project Contracts Limited, who have done a sterling job.

Visitors to the Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings’ Visitor Centre, which is opened by the Friends of the Flaxmill Maltings on Saturdays between 10am and 4pm, will be able to see the parts that make up the restored cast iron coronet at ground level for just a few weeks more before they are reassembled and put back in place at the top of the Jubilee Tower.

This is a unique opportunity to get close to the coronet, and to celebrate this the Friends have invited children aged under 10 at primary schools in Shropshire to colour in their own versions of the coronet flower – one of the decorative elements of the structure. Children are also able to pick up a colouring sheet from the Visitor Centre and at Button & Bear bookshop in Shrewsbury.

The returned colouring sheets will be showcased in the Dye House when the competition has closed, in February 2020. Three winners will be chosen to receive a £50, £30 and £10 voucher for their school library. Button & Bear have also kindly provided £10 book vouchers for each of the three individual winners.

Alan Mosley, chair of the Friends of the Flaxmill Maltings, said: “The coronet is an iconic part of the Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings and we are hoping to engage young children with this colouring competition. Entries are already arriving at the Flaxmill Maltings Visitor Centre, with some creative and vibrant colour schemes. We hope to receive many more entries before the closing date on 19 January 2020.”

Terms & Conditions:

The competition opens on Wednesday 4 December 2019 at 00.01 and closes on Sunday 19 January 2020 at 23.59.

To enter, hand in your entry at Button & Bear bookshop (28 Castle Street, Shrewsbury), your school or direct at the Flaxmill Maltings (Spring Gardens, Shrewsbury). One entry per person only. Entries submitted after the closing date will not be judged. No responsibility can be accepted for entries not received for whatever reason. A judging panel from the art group of the Friends of the Flaxmill Maltings, Historic England and Button & Bear will choose three winners. Judges’ decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into. The winners will be notified by 1 February 2020 and the prizes will be made available by 28 February 2020.

The promoter is: Friends of the Flaxmill Maltings, Visitor Centre, Spring Gardens, Shrewsbury, SY1 2SZ

First prize is a £50 voucher for the school library, second prize is a £30 voucher for the school library, third prize is a £10 voucher for the school library. The three winners will each be able to choose one book to the value of £10 from Button & Bear bookshop, collection only.

All received entries will be displayed in the Dye House of the Flaxmill Maltings on Saturdays in February and afterwards at Button & Bear. We are sorry but entries can’t be returned. .

Data on the form will be used to contact the prize winners via their school. After display, original copies will be destroyed. The coronet images and names may be used in a press story and in reports.

Under 10’s only. UK entries only.