This site uses cookies to personalise content, to provide social media features and to analyse traffic. To find out more, view our Privacy Policy.
From Malthouse to Arthouse
John Wing’s book delves into the rich history of the Southern Malting, a grade II listed building in Ware, Hertfordshire. He chronicles its transformation from a historic malting house into a vibrant Arts Centre, a project driven by the dedication of the local community. Through detailed accounts, Wing highlights the architectural significance of the building and celebrates the collaborative efforts that saved it from decay, preserving its legacy as a cultural hub for all.
At first glance, the Southern Maltings, with its white-washed walls and traditionally clad wooden cowl, looks like many other maltings building. But delve into our history and you’ll see that a checkered past is being creatively and skillfully overhauled to ensure we have an exciting and bright future, for the long-term.
The Southern Maltings was one of three maltings built in New Road, Ware by a local developer George Escott Smith for the production of Brown Malt. Brown Malt was used to brew the dark ale ‘Porter’, so called because it was drunk in large quantities by London porters. Its production required special skill and sold at a premium.
The Maltings were leased to local maltsters until 1880. They were then bought by Henry Page and operated by him and his descendants until 1962, when ‘floor malting’ in Ware ceased
The Maltings were bought by Ware Urban District Council and for several years were leased for warehousing.
In 1974, the Ware Arts Society was founded and opened negotiations with East Herts District Council (EHDC) – owners of the site following local government reorganisation. A fire in the north Cowl delayed progress but, in 1980, a lease was eventually acquired for the entire Southern Malting and planning consent for its comprehensive redevelopment as an arts centre obtained.
In 1982, using mainly volunteer labour, the eastern end of the Southern Maltings was modified and brought into use as the Ware Arts Centre (WAC). However, by 1985, it became clear that further redevelopment of the building was financially beyond WAC and they obtained a new lease covering only the east end.
The rest of the building remained unused until in 1993. EHDC removed the upper two malting floors in the central section where the maximum height had been 6 feet (1.8metres) and inserted a steel frame carrying a single floor. This section was then leased to the Smith family, trading as Waggers Club, with a pub on the ground floor and large events room on the first floor. At this time EHDC acquired the garden of the former Red Lion Pub on New Road to create a municipal yard and used the western ‘grain store’ end for document storage.
In 2003, WAC undertook a major upgrade of the east end, adding the glazed porch and a lift and brought the Cowl rooms into use by installing new wooden floors.
In December 2013 Waggers closed, and in January 2014 EHDC put the whole building up for sale. Within days a meeting was held in the Bulls Head public house and the Southern Maltings Campaign Group was established. They fought a 2-year community campaign, with the support of Ware Town Council and hundreds of local residents, until in February 2016 the Council agreed to grant a 30-year lease for the development of the Southern Malting as a ‘Community Arts for All Centre’.
The 30-year lease was signed in December 2016 and the work to redevelop the entire building started; a key caveat being that care must be taken to preserve its heritage features (the building was Grade 2 Listed in 1995).
The Southern Maltings is leased to Ware Arts Centre Limited, a charitable company limited by guarantee. Its operations are managed by a Board of Trustees along with a team of dedicated volunteers.
This site uses cookies to personalise content, to provide social media features and to analyse traffic. To find out more, view our Privacy Policy.