A historic Shrewsbury mill, regarded as the forerunner of the modern skyscraper, is to be returned to commercial use thanks to English Heritage and a group of dedicated supporters.
Ditherington Flax Mill, completed in 1797, is the oldest iron framed building in the world. It would take further advances in construction and the invention of lifts before buildings could reach for the sky, but architect Charles Bage took the first step in this direction at Ditherington.
Ditherington Flax Mill – The Apprentice House
For this reason the mill is a Grade I listed building. Other buildings on the site, recognised for their architectural and historic value, include the Apprentice House and the Dye House which have been awarded Grade II status.
English Heritage acquired the freehold to the site in 2005. Since then the organisation has been working in partnership with Shropshire Council and the Friends of the Flax Mill to develop a viable plan for the future of the buildings.
Now they have a shared vision to restore Ditherington for business use and have appointed architects Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios to oversee Phase 1 of the restoration.
Claire Cox, the council’s investment officer, told the Shropshire Star that they are now looking for tenants to come on board who could work with the architects to ensure they get the type of space they’re looking for.
It is hoped that this kind of commitment will lead to further investment which would fund the later phases of the project. Cox believes the building will have international appeal.
“The type of businesses will be those that see themselves having some kind of synergy with the building.
“Architects, engineers, those that see the innovation aspects of being inside the world’s first skyscraper. I know there will be some kind of serviced office requirement already,” she said.
A further announcement is due in the spring and work could begin later this year. If everything goes to plan the first tenants could be moving into the property within three years.
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