Ditherington Mill: Cross Building

Image: Prefabricated cast-iron roof in the Cross Building, Ditherington.

Image from: Shropshire Archives

The cross building was completed in 1803 and was connected with the north end of the main mill. Heckling or hackling was conducted in the upper floors of this building where raw flax was separated into short and long . The building was not constructed to be totally fireproof. No lighting or heating was provided on the upper floors. Its iron-framed construction was similar to that of the main mill and it contains fireproof staircases. Charles Bage probably designed this building as his letters show that he was deeply interested in the nature and problems of iron roofs.