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Malthouses
Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire
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The former malthouse (left) on the Kennet & Avon Canal, now the site of houses called The Maltings, Frome Road. A painting by W.H. Allen ©Hampshire County Council, provided by Hampshire Cultural Trust.
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Maltings, or malthouses are the premises in which malting is carried out.
Malting is the process in which the starch in grain, usually barley, is converted into the sugar maltose. This occurs when the grain seed begins to sprout or germinate, so maltsters manage the germination by controlling the temperature and humidity. The grain is spread across large floors and needs to be turned frequently. At the right moment, when the maltose has been created, germination is stopped and the sprouted grains are dried out in a building heated by a furnace. These ‘stove’ buildings are usually recognisable by their pyramid-shaped roof with a vent at the apex.
Most of the malted grain was sent to breweries, where the maltose was extracted and fermented to make beer.
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The Old Malthouse in Turleigh, Winsley, now a house. A malthouse in Turleigh was advertised to let by Emanuel Byfield in 1838 after the dissolution of a partnership
The malthouse of the Wilkins Brothers brewery in Newtown, Bradford was built against the face of a disused quarry. After serving as a builder’s yard and use by Royal Enfield motorcycles, it has been converted into flats
An old photograph shows the older malthouse at Wilkins’ brewery that was on the western side of Seven Stars pub; the building at the left end with pyramidal roof was the drying stove
The workers and one of the directors of the Wilkins’ brewery in the yard in front of the later malthouse
Another large malthouse was in Church Street, Bradford and stood in the space that is now between Abbey House and Dutch Barton.
A malthouse existed in Limpley Stoke, connected with a brewery near the mill and there were many smaller malthouses elsewhere, often at farms or public houses