Ditherington Flax Mill

Ditherington Flax Mill
East side of the Main Mill, facing St Michael's Street in September 2022
TypeFlax Mill, Maltings
LocationDitherington, Shrewsbury
Coordinates52°43′10″N 2°44′36″W / 52.7195°N 2.7432°W / 52.7195; -2.7432
OS grid referenceSJ4986613818
AreaShropshire
Built1797
ArchitectCharles Bage
Architectural style(s)Iron framed
OwnerHistoric England
Listed Building – Grade I
Official nameDitherington Flax Mill: Spinning Mill
Designated10 January 1953
Reference no.1270576
Ditherington Flax Mill is located in Shropshire
Ditherington Flax Mill
Location of Ditherington Flax Mill in Shropshire

Ditherington Flax Mill (promoted as the Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings), a flax mill located in Ditherington, a suburb of Shrewsbury, England, is the first iron-framed building in the world, and described as "the grandfather of skyscrapers".[1] It is five-storeys tall. Its importance was officially recognised in the 1950s,[2] resulting in it becoming a Grade I listed building.[3] It is also locally known as the "Maltings" from its later use. The mill is in the hands of Historic England and is currently in use as a mixed-use workspace and exhibition following its official opening in 2022.

  1. ^ 'Father of the skyscraper' rescued for the nation, English Heritage press release, undated, retrieved 27 May 2007
  2. ^ W. G. Rimmer, 'Castle Foregate Flax Mill, Shrewsbury' Transactions of Shropshire Archaeological Society LVI (1957–60), 49ff.
  3. ^ Historic England. "Ditherington Flax Mill: Spinning Mill (1270576)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 5 June 2019.