Ditherington Flax Mill
The Ditherington Flax Mill, promoted as the Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings, is a flax mill in the county town of Shrewsbury in Shropshire, England. It is the world's first iron-framed building. It is also seen as the world's first skyscraper, often being described as "the grandfather of skyscrapers", despite it being only as tall as a modern-day five-storey building. In the 1950s, it became a Grade I listed building. The site is owned by of Historic England.
Construction
Its architect was Charles Bage, who designed the mill using an iron-framed structure, inspired by the work of William Strutt. The columns and cross-beams were made by William Hazledine at his foundry in Shrewsbury. The construction of the mill ran from 1796 to 1797, at a cost of £17,000 (including equipment).
Visitor centre
There is an exhibition open to the public on the ground floor of the Main Mill which officially opened on 10 September 2022.
Ditherington Flax Mill Media
West side of the Main Mill c.2002 prior to restoration.
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.
West side of the site in snow, December 2017. Taken from Hencote Lane, Shrewsbury.
Restoration work on the top floor of the Main Mill in September 2018 with the work on the windows.
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.
The previous visitor centre in the former office block (smithy in the flax mill era) in 2019.
