A community group in Wirksworth, Derbyshire is celebrating after receiving a grant from the Tarmac Landfill Communities Fund.
The Maltings (previously known as the Parish Room) received a £50,000 donation to upgrade the facilities in this familiar local building.
Built as a malting house for the Burton breweries in 1820, the building was part of an area of cottage industries neighbouring St Mary’s Church. The Maltings is a well-known and previously well-loved historic building, right in the heart of the town, that has an important past as a place of work, entertainment, education and community. It has been central to the lives of the people of Wirksworth for two hundred years, from its days as a malting house, to tea dances, billiard games, youth groups, army billet, vintners, underwear factory and gallery it has provided work, seen friendships and romances grow and seen people learn.
In 2020, a National Lottery grant enabled the Maltings to modernise the kitchen, but the toilets facilities also needed upgrading leading the management group to apply for funding from the Tarmac Landfill Communities Fund.
Canon David Truby, Chair of the Maltings Management Group said: “We are delighted that the Maltings can, at last, provide the full range of facilities not only for current activities, such as the community orchestra and table tennis group but also an affordable venue for parties, concerts and other local groups. The Maltings is likely to become a vital hub for community groups in and around Wirksworth.”
“We are very grateful to Tarmac for helping us to be able to carry out this work.”
Aaron Laycock, quarry manager at Dene Quarry near Wirksworth said: “We are very happy to have been able to support this project. We hope that the improved facilities will give the building a new lease of life for all the community to enjoy.”
