The Maltings
Our building was first commissioned in 1836 by Messrs. Fordhams of Ashwell. It was one of three maltings in the village.
In 1953 Fordhams was sold to Greene King, when this building became a bottle store. In 1958 Greene King sold it to Flowers Breweries Limited, who in turn were amalgamated with Whitbread in 1965.
In July 1970 Whitbread Limited applied for planning permission to convert the Maltings, and adjoining Kiln, Gatehouse and Stables block (at the end of Fordham Close) into private houses and in 1972 sold the whole site, with planning permission to EMK Properties (Ware) Ltd.
In its sales particulars this house is described as having open sack storage up to the second floor level. The second and third floors both had wooden flooring (retained) where the hand screeding and separating of the malt would have occurred. The top floor was originally a platform leading to the gantry at the front of the building. Trap doors between these floors can still be seen. Both the adjoining Kiln House and our house were originally connected at the second and third floor levels.
On completion in 1975, The Maltings was given both an award under the European Architectural Heritage Year Scheme as well as a North Herts. District Council Civic Award.
(N.B. Aerial photograph to be added.)
Comments about this page
There’s some mixed up information here:
“In 1953 Fordhams was sold to Greene King, when this building became a bottle store. In 1958 Greene King sold it to Flowers Breweries Limited, who in turn were amalgamated with Whitbread in 1965.”
J W Green of Luton bought Fordham’s in 1952. Green’s became Flowers in 1954 (Green’s taking the Flower’s name for commercial reasons) and Whitbread bought Flowers in 1962.
I don’t think Greene King ever had anything to do with it, though maybe they used the maltings in the ’50s, perhaps.
Add a comment about this page