'Father of the skyscraper' gets £2.8m repairs grant

It has been called the ancestor of the modern skyscraper and is one of the most important industrial buildings in England. Now Ditherington Flax Mill, the first iron-framed building in the world, is to be saved thanks to a grant of nearly £3 million.

It has been called the ancestor of the modern skyscraper and is one of the most important industrial buildings in England. Now Ditherington Flax Mill, the first iron-framed building in the world, is to be saved thanks to a grant of nearly £3 million.

Despite its historic importance, the mill, in Shrewsbury, has been lying empty since 1987 and has fallen into a state of dangerous neglect and decay. The windows have been smashed and rain pours in through the roof. It is a high priority on the English Heritage buildings at risk list.

In March, English Heritage pledged £500,000 - one of its biggest single grants - to transform the mill's complex of buildings into retail outlets, restaurants, a heritage information centre, leisure facilities and offices. There is also space for an art gallery and flats.

The scheme was put on hold until Advantage West Midlands, the regional development agency, confirmed a grant of £2.8m on Monday allowing work to finally start.

Sir Neil Cossons, the chairman of English Heritage, said the confirmation of the grant was excellent news. He said: "The mill is of outstanding national and international importance and had a profound influence on building design and construction 200 years ago. It is one of our most significant monuments of the industrial revolution and I am delighted its future is secure."

Ditherington Mill was designed by Charles Bage, a Shrewsbury surveyor and wine merchant, who was one of a group of intellectuals and innovators driving the industrial revolution in Shropshirein the late 18th century.

Other members of the set included Erasmus Darwin, a scientist and the grandfather of Charles Darwin, Joseph Priestley, who first isolated oxygen, and Thomas Telford, the engineer who built the Iron Bridge in Coalbrookdale.

Ditherington was the largest flax mill of its time and one of the largest textile mills in the country. Under the proposed scheme it will be re-roofed, the blocked-up windows will be re-instated, a short length of canal running through the site will be re-excavated and the whole building will be made structurally sound.

In addition to the £500,000 grant, English Heritage has also awarded a heritage economic regeneration grant of about £250,000 over the next three years to repair and bring new life back to the terraced houses and shops immediately around the mill.

The announcement was made as international experts prepare to meet in London at the end of this month to discuss the crisis facing the world's industrial heritage. The conference, to be opened by Sir Neil, will explore changing attitudes to these buildings and discuss the latest ideas on conserving them.