From the organisers of the Natural Stone Show

 

 

 
Stone Heritage

Historic England placements on offer - application deadline 25 February
, By Eric Bignell

The Flaxmill Maltings in 1897. They are now being renovated by Historic England with heritage experience opportunities available. You have until 25 February to apply.

Meet Historic England in the Conservation area of the Natural Stone Show in London at ExCeL,
30 April-2 May

Historic England has some placement opportunities for heritage trainees on Flaxmill Maltings in Shrewsbury, Shropshire. The building has been described by Sir Peter Luff, Chairman of the Heritage Lottery Fund before it became the National Lottery Heritage Fund (read more about that here), as: "The most important building of the modern age."

The placements are being provided by Croft Building & Conservation Ltd, and although none of them is in stonemasonry per se, they do provide an opportunity to work on an important historic building, which would be beneficial on a CV of those wishing to concentrate on the heritage market.

The placements are available in various trades associated with repair works that involve:

  • Slate roof coverings
  • Timber roof structures
  • Leadwork
  • Brickwork

You can find out more about the National Lottery Heritage Fund-supported project on Historic England’s website (click here). 

On offer is:

  • Practical and hands-on experience in your trade on a Grade I listed building
  • Improved understanding of traditional building materials and construction
  • A bursary payment of £500 per week (£100 per day)
  • PPE and tools required will be provided
  • Individual Learning Plan to support your learning goals

What you need to be able to offer to be considered:

  • Practical experience working in construction
  • Experience of or interest in heritage work
  • Enjoy working as part of a team
  • Be able to work outside and at heights

The dates for the placements are flexible between March and September this year (2019). The placements are for a minimum of five days and up to six weeks, with plenty of flexibility on timing to fit in with your studies or other commitments. Dates will be agreed with the successful applicants at the start of their placement.

Want to try for a placement? You have until 10am on 25 February to get your application in. You can find out how to submit your application on the Historic England website here. 

These placement opportunities are funded by the Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation.


 

About the Flaxmill Maltings

For nearly a century the site operated as a state-of-the-art steam-powered flaxmill spinning linen thread from flax.

The pace, hours and nature of the work was dictated by the steam-driven machines and the profit making system the workers were part of.

Many of the workers suffered injuries or physical deformities brought about by the repetitive nature of the tasks they undertook. Health problems such as foot rot and lung diseases were as a result of the working environment were common.

More than a third of the workers in the mill were children. Some were 'supplied' to the mill from the local poor house and from further afield under the apprenticeship system.

The Maltings closed in 1987 and the future of the site and its important buildings became increasingly uncertain. Derelict for many years, the big challenge has been to identify a future for the site that protects and conserves the historic buildings while providing it with a viable economic future.

Historic England bought the freehold in 2005 and partnered with Shropshire Council and the Friends of the Flaxmill Maltings to save these buildings and bring them back to use.

The first milestone was the opening of a new visitor centre in November 2015, where the story of the mill's role in the industrial revolution and in world architecture is told.