A brief History (Copied from Coflein.gov.uk)
The company founded in 1874 when Thomas Phillips, previously of the Northampton Brewery Co. Ltd, bought the brewery of Thomas Floyde Lewis with 13 tied houses. Registered in March 1892.
The Malt House was built 'on the former Penner and Tilley wharves c1898. Formerly the premises of Phillip and Sons, Malsters, who operated a brewery in nearby Lower Dock Street.' It is Grade II listed, because it was 'a very good example of a substantial late C19 maltings (of a type rare in Wales), retaining much of its original form and character.' Red brick, roofed in natural slate. Hybrid Ware/multi-storey type, consisting of 3 blocks, each elevation articulated by regularly repeating full-height brick pilasters rising to a cogged brick cornice. The NE block probably housed barley storage in the loft storeys, with growing floors below. It is 3 storeys high, with 3 loft storeys forming 6 storeys altogether in the gable end. Its long NW elevation is of 6 bays with regularly spaced small windows. The roof has 2 sets of gabled, four-light dormers, the lower set consisting of three, and the upper of two. The NE gable end is seven bays wide, with symmetrically aligned small windows. Central bay has projecting gabled pentice (over taking-in doors) rising through the fourth and fifth storeys. Central range incorporates three malting kilns beneath a single rectangular hipped roof at right angles to the NE and SW blocks. Three bays wide, stepping up to four storeys in height. Later two storey opening cut through central bay. Three small primary window openings at fourth floor level, now blocked. 3 square slate hung cowls on the ridge indicated the 3 kilns within. The SW block beyond the kilns probably formed a malt storage area, and is 3 bays wide and of double pile form with a single small opening to the central bay at fourth floor level, and later five light casement at extreme right hand end. Single storey vehicular opening to central bay at ground floor level. The twin gables of the SW elevation are rendered and of three bays each, rising to five storeys, each with a porthole window set high in the gable with three small openings beneath at fourth floor level.'
Unfortunately the building was badly damaged by fire in 2005 which completely destroyed the roof and has since remained derelict. As of 2025 remains a shell of what once was with original architecture standing and large warnings on the building stating to not enter.
The Explore
Revisitng my first ever explore after 6 years. Arriving after a failed attempt at an office block not far from it, we didnt expect much of the site since being damaged by a fire in 2005 and laying derelict for 20 years we shocked to see it having such an easy entry nevertheless we wandered in to what we be a rather quick yet interesting explore of some Newport history. Sadly one floor of the site is accessible due to the local council cleaning it up and removing the old stairs leading to the second floor. The site empty but holding original features from its construction and operation as a malt house. You can find pre fire pictures in the archives on coflein.gov.uk. There wasn't much to disclose on about the site but from hear the crappy samsung pictures will do my job for me.
the building boasts a 'ghost sign' of what it used to be
An old house reel!
interesting old brick work and seems to be a shoot of some form?
the main ground floor hall
What seems to be an old power box?
Some old piping!
Posting this i realise, half of the beams are not attached.
And finally what i believe an old electrical transformer we noticed as we were leaving
Sadly this report isnt to my best standard however,
Thanks for reading!
The company founded in 1874 when Thomas Phillips, previously of the Northampton Brewery Co. Ltd, bought the brewery of Thomas Floyde Lewis with 13 tied houses. Registered in March 1892.
The Malt House was built 'on the former Penner and Tilley wharves c1898. Formerly the premises of Phillip and Sons, Malsters, who operated a brewery in nearby Lower Dock Street.' It is Grade II listed, because it was 'a very good example of a substantial late C19 maltings (of a type rare in Wales), retaining much of its original form and character.' Red brick, roofed in natural slate. Hybrid Ware/multi-storey type, consisting of 3 blocks, each elevation articulated by regularly repeating full-height brick pilasters rising to a cogged brick cornice. The NE block probably housed barley storage in the loft storeys, with growing floors below. It is 3 storeys high, with 3 loft storeys forming 6 storeys altogether in the gable end. Its long NW elevation is of 6 bays with regularly spaced small windows. The roof has 2 sets of gabled, four-light dormers, the lower set consisting of three, and the upper of two. The NE gable end is seven bays wide, with symmetrically aligned small windows. Central bay has projecting gabled pentice (over taking-in doors) rising through the fourth and fifth storeys. Central range incorporates three malting kilns beneath a single rectangular hipped roof at right angles to the NE and SW blocks. Three bays wide, stepping up to four storeys in height. Later two storey opening cut through central bay. Three small primary window openings at fourth floor level, now blocked. 3 square slate hung cowls on the ridge indicated the 3 kilns within. The SW block beyond the kilns probably formed a malt storage area, and is 3 bays wide and of double pile form with a single small opening to the central bay at fourth floor level, and later five light casement at extreme right hand end. Single storey vehicular opening to central bay at ground floor level. The twin gables of the SW elevation are rendered and of three bays each, rising to five storeys, each with a porthole window set high in the gable with three small openings beneath at fourth floor level.'
Unfortunately the building was badly damaged by fire in 2005 which completely destroyed the roof and has since remained derelict. As of 2025 remains a shell of what once was with original architecture standing and large warnings on the building stating to not enter.
The Explore
Revisitng my first ever explore after 6 years. Arriving after a failed attempt at an office block not far from it, we didnt expect much of the site since being damaged by a fire in 2005 and laying derelict for 20 years we shocked to see it having such an easy entry nevertheless we wandered in to what we be a rather quick yet interesting explore of some Newport history. Sadly one floor of the site is accessible due to the local council cleaning it up and removing the old stairs leading to the second floor. The site empty but holding original features from its construction and operation as a malt house. You can find pre fire pictures in the archives on coflein.gov.uk. There wasn't much to disclose on about the site but from hear the crappy samsung pictures will do my job for me.
the building boasts a 'ghost sign' of what it used to be
An old house reel!
interesting old brick work and seems to be a shoot of some form?
the main ground floor hall
What seems to be an old power box?
Some old piping!
Posting this i realise, half of the beams are not attached.
And finally what i believe an old electrical transformer we noticed as we were leaving
Sadly this report isnt to my best standard however,
Thanks for reading!
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