Historic England’s crowd-funding appeal to raise funds towards the restoration of the Jubilee Coronet at Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings closes in a matter of days and they still need your help to reach their target.
As the world’s first iron-framed building in the world, the Main Mill is an extraordinary example of the nation’s industrial heritage, embodying significant changes in factory design and structural engineering. The Main Mill was the first fireproof, multi-storey structure of its kind and is known as the grandparent of the modern day skyscraper.
Following its conversion from a flax mill to a maltings in 1897, a new timber hoist tower was added at its north end. The maltings owners crowned the tower with a magnificent cast iron coronet to celebrate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee and the structure latterly became known as the jubilee coronet. However, 122 years later, the coronet is in urgent need of repair.
Now, as part of the restoration of the Main Mill, Historic England plan to return the jubilee crown to its former glory. It will be removed to a specialist conservation workshop where it will be carefully surveyed and repaired, before being reassembled and reinstalled, taking pride of place in the Shrewsbury skyline.
The appeal closes at 6am on Saturday 22nd June – donations cannot be received online after this.
They need to raise £26,000 to cover the cost of the coronet restoration and success will depend on how many people they can reach. If you would like to show your support either by pledging or sharing the appeal with your friends and family, please follow the link for more information: www.crowdfunder.co.uk/crowningshrewsbury
Industrial Heritage Networks 