Bass Maltings, Sleaford
Bass Maltings, Sleaford | ||
---|---|---|
OS grid reference TF 07444 45255 | | |
Built | 1901–1907 | |
Architect | Herbert A. Couchman | |
Listed Building – Grade II* | ||
Official name | Former maltings of Bass Industrial Estate | |
Designated | 14 November 1974 | |
Reference no. | 1062154 | |
The Bass Maltings in Sleaford, England are a large group of eight disused malt houses originally owned by the Bass Brewery of Burton upon Trent. Constructed between 1901 and 1907 to Herbert A. Couchman's design, the maltings are the largest group of malt houses in England;[1] they have been designated Grade II* on the National Heritage List for England, recognising them as "particularly important ... of more than special interest."[2]
Part of the predominantly agricultural county of Lincolnshire,[3] the Sleaford area was a major producer of barley in the 1880s. When germinated and dried to form malt, barley forms a key ingredient in the production of beer. Along with the town's railway links, this attracted the Bass brewery company to the town. The use of more efficient techniques at Bass's other plant led to the closure of Sleaford's maltings in 1959. Despite being used to rear poultry in the late 20th century, the buildings have not been fully occupied since Bass left and a fire in 1976 caused severe damage to three of the malthouses. Derelict since the 1990s, proposals to convert the buildings into office, retail and residential space were put on hold in early 2015 after lengthy delays over planning permission and the withdrawal of a major investor.
History
Industry and vacancy
In the late-19th century, the Sleaford area was a major
The company ran the complex at full capacity until after the
Regeneration
A regeneration scheme was announced in 2004; supported by the Phoenix Trust, the maltings would be converted into residential, retail and business space.
However, in 2012, Sleaford Town Council refused to grant permission for a link road connecting Boston Road to the site because of "concerns about closing a level crossing and the loss of trees" at the Boston Road Recreation Ground.[14] After a lengthy stalemate, the District Council served a compulsory purchase order on the site in 2014,[15] but Tesco announced early the following year that it would no longer be investing in the maltings complex following a series of financial setbacks to the company.[13] Although Gladedale (by then known as Avant Homes)[16] announced its commitment to converting parts of the site to residential use, the leader of North Kesteven District Council, Marion Brighton, stated that the plans were "effectively on hold" following the withdrawal of Tesco.[17]
Architecture
The maltings were constructed to designs by Herbert A. Couchman, Bass & Co.'s chief engineer.[1] Built in red brick with Welsh slate roofing, the complex follows a rectangular plan along an east–west orientation: a central four-storey water tower is flanked by four malthouses. Behind the tower is a tall, octagonal chimney. The malthouses are identical in design and layout; barley was fed into a granary section, before being moved onto the germination floors and eventually transported to one of the twin kilns, where malting took place. Their southern fronts consisted of a six-storey building of five bays with a gable spanning three windows that faces the other ranges. Projecting northwards is a ten-bay section of four-storeys which formed the germination floors.[1]
With a frontage of nearly 1,000 ft
There are five workers' cottages along the path from Mareham Lane to the industrial site; each are Grade II listed.[22] The complex's offices,[23] storage depot,[24] weigh offices,[25] cartsheds,[26] gateways, walls[27] and mess rooms are also listed at the same grade.[28]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Historic England. "Former maltings of Bass Industrial Estate (1062154)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
- ^ "Listed Buildings". Historic England. Retrieved 18 February 2015.
- ^ "Agriculture". Lincolnshire County Council. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
- ^ Ellis 1981, pp. 81, 86–87
- ^ "Fire at Bass Maltings", 1976, colour silent film on 8mm film (4 mins). Preserved at the Lincolnshire Film Archive, no. 525. For a short clip, see "Fire at Bass Maltings", published 5 March 2013 on YouTube.
- ^ a b c "Regeneration Scheme for The Maltings takes a step closer". BBC News. 23 January 2009. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
- ^ "High hopes for maltings project". BBC News. 30 December 2004. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
- ^ "Cinema call for maltings project". BBC News. 19 June 2005. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
- ^ "Public consulted on Maltings plan". BBC News. 8 February 2006. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
- ^ "£200,000 grant will save landmark". BBC News. 6 March 2006. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
- ^ "Step forward for historic project". BBC News. 2 October 2006. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
- ^ a b "Sleaford Maltings £50m scheme is approved". BBC News. 13 April 2011. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
- ^ a b "Tesco drops plan for Sleaford and Mablethorpe developments". BBC News. 9 January 2015. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
- ^ "Sleaford Maltings project on hold over road row". BBC News. 12 April 2012. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
- ^ "Sleaford Bass Maltings: Compulsory purchase order served on link road land". BBC News. 10 October 2014. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
- ^ Shah, Oliver (14 December 2014). "Lloyds sells Avant Homes for £175m". Sunday Times. London. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
- ^ "Sleaford Bass Maltings still set for development despite Tesco withdrawal". Sleaford Target. 21 January 2015. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
- ^ a b Pevsner, Harris & Antram 2002, p. 657
- ^ "Work on retail complex at Bass Maltings site in Sleaford could start within weeks". Lincolnshire Echo. 31 October 2011. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
- ^ "HRH visits Norfolk and Lincolnshire". The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall (official website). 26 November 2003. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
- ^ "Bass Maltings in Sleaford put on English Heritage 'at-risk' register". Lincolnshire Echo. 21 October 2011. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
- ^ Historic England. Nos. 1389332 through 1389332. National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
- ^ Historic England. "Details from listed building database (1389333)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
- ^ Historic England. "Details from listed building database (1389335)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
- ^ Historic England. "Details from listed building database (1389334)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
- ^ Historic England. "Details from listed building database (1389326)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 16 April 2015.and Historic England. "Details from listed building database (1389325)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
- ^ Historic England. "Details from listed building database (1389327)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
- ^ Historic England. Nos. 1389336 through 1389340. National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
- Bibliography
- Ellis, Charles, ed. (1981), Mid-Victorian Sleaford: 1851–1871, Lincoln: Lincolnshire Library Service, ISBN 9780861111022
- ISBN 9780300096200