Rejoice!

This building, a Malt Kiln, once owned by Associated British Malsters (ABM) has been a blot on the skyline of Louth ever since we have lived here. It is right in the middle of town but when it was constructed in 1949 it was on the edge of town! During the war maltings production had halved and people wanted it back to normal. The owners hired contractor Mitchells of Grimsby to build the malt kiln to an American design - a maltings like none other seen in Europe let alone Louth! It took 2 years to complete the building but it would have been quicker without post-war cement rationing. They built the skyscraping 120 ft high barley and malt store and it has been a blot on the landscape ever since!
The interior was 96 eight foot square 90ft high storage chambers for the malt and barley and that is why it has never been demolished by blasting as it is so strong. Bucket and chain elevators carried the barley up to be emptied into the storage chambers. Hoppers poured barley onto conveyor belts which carried it to 4 40 tonne capacity steeping tanks for soaking Then it was moved to germinating boxes, a fine spray maintained 100% humidity and the temperature was kept at 60F 365 days a year 24 hours a day. For 4 days the barley was turned automatically to promote germination, the rootlet growth turning starch into sugar which the brewer wanted. The oil fired kilns operated at 2 temperatures the lower for lager and the higher for traditional bitters and mild.
in 1987 under new owners the council refused permission for it to expand and its fate was sealed as the new owners moved to a much bigger premises in Bury St Edmunds.
Anyway REJOICE with us residents of Louth as it is now about to be demolished to make way for an -------ALDI store --- a much lower building. No more will St James' spire have to compete on the skyline of Louth. Inside demolition has started and the main structure comes under attack this weekend. Hurrah is all I can say.

Enjoy your pint tonight!

This is for derelict Thursday challenge organised by[SarumStroller and I thank him as I might never have photographed this for blip!