I went here after visiting Birr Castle, home of the famous telescope, since it’s just up the road.
This place is somewhat similar to the maltings in Athy, and was once run by the same people, Minch.
Minch subsequently became part of Greencore, now taken over by Boortmalt.
There was originally a corn mill on the site, followed in the late 1800s by a large distillery which was mostly demolished before the maltings was built in the 1970s.
Minch took over in 1996, producing ca 35,000 tons of malt per year before closing in 2006 with the loss of 10 jobs.
Local farmers were not happy as they now have to transport their barley much further afield.
Few of the older buildings remain so it’s mostly modern mechanised plant and as such not of much historical interest.
Nevertheless it’s quite a fun wander trying to work out how the process operated, with plenty of ladders, walkways and hatches to investigate.
Metal thieves have salvaged electrical cables and local children have smashed a few windows, but otherwise it’s probably much as it was when it closed.
Offices and quality control.
The central block, containing portions of an older building, with germination and kilning done in large stirred tanks.
A 2003 photo shows an old style floor kiln in this region but it seems to have been demolished.
Some of the machinery is by Boby of Bury St Edmonds, who made a lot of grain processing equipment before closing in the 1970s.
continued
This place is somewhat similar to the maltings in Athy, and was once run by the same people, Minch.
Minch subsequently became part of Greencore, now taken over by Boortmalt.
There was originally a corn mill on the site, followed in the late 1800s by a large distillery which was mostly demolished before the maltings was built in the 1970s.
Minch took over in 1996, producing ca 35,000 tons of malt per year before closing in 2006 with the loss of 10 jobs.
Local farmers were not happy as they now have to transport their barley much further afield.
Few of the older buildings remain so it’s mostly modern mechanised plant and as such not of much historical interest.
Nevertheless it’s quite a fun wander trying to work out how the process operated, with plenty of ladders, walkways and hatches to investigate.
Metal thieves have salvaged electrical cables and local children have smashed a few windows, but otherwise it’s probably much as it was when it closed.
Offices and quality control.
The central block, containing portions of an older building, with germination and kilning done in large stirred tanks.
A 2003 photo shows an old style floor kiln in this region but it seems to have been demolished.
Some of the machinery is by Boby of Bury St Edmonds, who made a lot of grain processing equipment before closing in the 1970s.
continued
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