Langley Maltings

Langley Maltings is a former maltings in Oldbury, West Midlands, England. Built in 1898, it was in operation until 2006. It was damaged by fire in 2009.

Langley Maltings
Viewed from Western Road in 2018
General information
StatusGrade II listed
TypeMaltings
LocationOldbury, West Midlands
grid reference SO 996 883
Coordinates52°29′34″N 2°0′26″W
Opened1898
Closed2006

It is a Grade II listed building, listed on 18 March 1974.[1] It has been named by the Victorian Society as a heritage building at risk of disrepair. [2]

History

Langley Maltings was built in 1898, replacing a malt house destroyed by fire the previous year. It was designed by Arthur Kinder & Son.[3] It supplied malt to Crosswells Brewery, a short distance away across a railway line; the brewery, established in 1870 by Walter Showell, distributed Showell's Ales throughout the Midlands.[4] The maltings was known as Showell's Maltings.[1]

The building is next to Titford Canal; grain was delivered by canal, and later by rail, a railway siding being built from the main line (now the Birmingham to Worcester via Kidderminster line). After the Second World War grain was delivered by road. There was some rebuilding following a fire in 1925. In 1944 the maltings was bought from Showells by Wolverhampton and Dudley Breweries.[3][5]

By the end of the 20th century it was one of few such buildings in the country using the traditional floor malting process. Malting came to an end in 2006, and the following year Wolverhampton and Dudley Breweries sold the building.[5]

Viewed from the towpath of Titford Canal in 2019

On 8 September 2009 the building was damaged by arson: much of the roof, and three of its outlet towers, were destroyed in the fire.[5]

In 2012 permission to demolish two of three structures, as part of a housing plan, was refused by Sandwell Council. The council report noted that English Heritage, disagreeing with the report by the structural engineers supporting demolition, said that despite some unstable masonry, repairing the building would be relatively straightforward. The council report noted: "The proposed demolition of a large element of the listed building will result in a substantial loss of significance to these historic maltings".[6]

In 2018 the Victorian Society included Langley Maltings on its list of the top ten endangered buildings.[2]

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gollark: == display(5)
gollark: == display("2")
gollark: Perfect.

References
  1. Historic England. "Langley Maltings (1279047)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  2. "Victorian Society reveals top 10 buildings 'crying out' to be saved". BBC News. BBC. 12 September 2018. Retrieved 12 September 2018.
  3. Wolverhampton and Dudley’s Maltings: Langley, West Midlands and Lichfield, Staffordshire: visit on 22 September 2005 The Brewery History Society. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  4. Langley Maltings Made in Oldbury. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  5. Langley Maltings History of Oldbury, Langley and Warley. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  6. Oldbury's historic Langley Maltings buildings saved after campaign Birmingham Live, 14 October 2012. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
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