Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings

School Visits

Known as ‘The Grandparent of Skyscrapers’, Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings is an internationally important historical site. It was the first multi-storied iron-framed building in the world, originally used as a Mill and then a Maltings, and was operational until the 1980s. Bring the curriculum to life and stand at the spot where history happened during a free self-led visit. 

Curriculum Links

Support your teaching in the classroom by stepping out of it. A visit to Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings will help you bring learning to life, covering multiple topics across the curriculum and key stages.

  • KS1 History: Significant individuals and events in the locality
  • KS1 Science: materials and their suitability for particular purposes (brick, iron and wood for industrial buildings) and people who used new materials (the Benyon brothers and who they collaborated with to create first multi-floor iron-framed building)
  • KS1 and KS2 Design and Technology: design and strengthen structures (inspired by iron frame)
  • KS2 History: local history study
  • KS2 Science: simple machines (hoist tower)
  • KS2 Design and Technology: understand key events and individuals that have helped shape the world (grandfather of skyscrapers)
  • KS3 History: Britain 1745 – 1901 – industry and its effect on society (apprentices and working conditions)
  • KS3 History: Britain 1901 – present day (WW2 training barracks)
  • KS3 History: local history study (local site over time and how it reflects national story)
  • KS3 Science: energy changes and transfers – steam powered machinery and human impact on the climate
  • KS3 Design and Technology: developments in design and their impact on individuals, society and the environment (could include lots of impacts on the local people, the production of flax and malt and impact of steam power on environment etc.)

Free Self-Led Visits

Book a free self-led visit to Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings and organise your day to suit your curriculum objectives.

To enquire about a visit from 1st April 2025, please email Helen Kerry, the Education Visits Officer for the West.

Enquire Now

Plan Your Trip

We have a wide range of materials to support your visit and make school trip planning easy. You can find all our site-specific information and tools below, and further information on our what to expect page.

Download our free resources to help you make the most out of your visit and create unique learning experiences before, during and after your trip. We also offer free planning visits once you have made a booking, plus a 20% discount on the official English Heritage guidebook for your place of choice.

Once you book your visit you’ll be sent a visit permit, which you’ll need to bring with you on the day.

Visit our bookings page to start planning your trip!

  • Facilities

    PARKING: There is limited car parking available on site. Coach parking is drop-off only.

    TOILETS:Public toilets are situated up one flight of stairs in the Café. We have two accessible toilets. One on the ground floor in the Café and one outside, next to the Stables

    LUNCH: Picnic spaces are available outside, but there is no indoor lunch space or bag storage.


    SHOP: There is a shop onsite.


    EDUCATION ROOM: There is an education space onsite. To book this, please include this in your education visit enquiry. 

  • Hazard Information

    A useful tool to help with your risk assessments.

     

    You must meet the following ratios for leaders to students on the day of your visit when booking, and if your group is forming smaller groups while at the site:

    • Ages 4-5 (UK Reception) 1 leader for every 4 students (1:4)
    • Ages 5-7 (UK Key Stage 1) 1 leader for every 6 students (1:6)
    • Ages 7-11 (UK Key Stage 2) 1 leader for every 10 students (1:10) and
    • Ages 11-18 (UK Key Stages 3, 4, and 5) 1 leader for every 15 students (1:15)
    • For an adult learning group, consisting of individuals all over the age of 18, there are no ratios but there must be an appointed group leader
    • All ratios outlined above apply to home education groups
    • If your group consists of children aged 3 and/or 4, you must also refer to the Early Years and Foundation Stage Statutory Framework which sets out specific legal requirements for minimum ratios for this age group, to include requirements about the qualifications of the leaders
    • SEND groups must meet the minimum ratios above but may bring any additional leaders as required to adequately support their group
  • Education Site Opening Times

    We offer free self-led education visits during school term time*. From November until March we open exclusively for education groups at selected sites when booking an expert-led Discovery Visit. See our education opening times below for individual site information.

    *Free education visits are not offered on UK public holidays or during the operation of additional fee paying public events at English Heritage sites.

     

    • 31 March-25 October: Monday-Sunday 10-5pm
    • 26 October-02 March: Monday-Sunday 10-4pm
    • 03 November-13 February: Saturday-Sunday 10-4pm
    • 14 February-22 February: Monday=Sunday 10-4pm
    • 23 February-27 March: Saturday-Sunday 10-4pm

Learning Resources

  • Teaching the Victorians

    Use historical information, learning activities and tips from our historians, curators and educational experts to support your teaching of the Victorians.

  • Teaching the 20th Century

    Use historical information, learning activities and tips from our historians, curators and educational experts to support your teaching of 20th century history.

Enquire Now

To enquire about a visit from 1st April 2025, please email Helen Kerry, the Education Visits Officer for the West.

All bookings must be made at least 14 days in advance. Please make sure you check our terms and conditions ahead of your visit.

If you’d like more information about a site or one of our workshops, get in touch with Helen Kerry, your local Education Visits Officer. We look forward to seeing you soon.

Enquire Now