Former employees of Ditherington Maltings in Shrewsbury, England share their memories of working in the kilns and malt houses, how the malting process changed over time, and life during World War 2 when the buildings were used as barracks. Residents recall dances for soldiers from the barracks and one man details his experience serving at the maltings before the D-Day invasion. A 1940s tea dance was held by volunteers to hear more stories from those remembering the historic site.

1. Former Maltster John Smallman
& Maltings Foreman Len Groves
talk about the working in the
Maltings kiln.

2. Former Technical Maltster Bill
Preen talks about changes in
the malting process at
Ditherington Maltings.

3. Former Maltster Terry Smith and Maltings Foreman, Karl Jones interviewed
for Radio Shropshire during a Maltster’s reunion organised by the Friends’
oral history group.

4. Ann Gregory
Talks about her evacuation to
Shrewsbury during the Second World
War and the dances held in
Castlefields attended by soldiers from
the Maltings Barracks.

5. Robert Jones
Tells a wonderful story of life as a
soldier stationed at the Maltings
Barracks and his journey from
Ditherington to D Day.

6. The Friends’ Oral History Project volunteers held a 1940s Tea Dance and
invited local residents, former Maltsers and people with memories of
the Maltings as barracks to attend.