The Maltings – From Brewing and Hops to an Arts and Cultural Centre

With a brewing history that dates back to 1845 the Maltings as we know it now was a major community initiative. Offered by the Brewery it was purchased by the people of Farnham and with support from The Farnham Trust for some £30000 in 1969. This avoided the then derelict, historic, buildings being demolished and others converted into flats. There then followed several difficult years of funding renovation and converting the buildings to realise the vision of transforming it into an arts and community centre.

Today Farnham Maltings is at the heart of the town. For more than 50 years it has developed as an arts and cultural centre presenting ‘a programme of performance and participation work which contributes to the town’s quality of life’. Over the past ten years it has also taken over management and care of The Museum of Farnham.

As with the Farnham Society’s objective of preserving and enhancing the heritage of Farnham, so in its sphere, does the Maltings with its aim to build on the town’s heritage and reputation for crafts (and the arts in general) with an ambition to be leading the ‘house’ network of 180 arts centres and theatres in the South East of England.

The Farnham Society has supported the Maltings from the early preservation and renovation days and continues to do so. Farnham would not be the town it is today without this terrific organisation. How marvellous that the community’s actions then meant that the historic building was preserved from the development options of the day and yet has a new purpose within the old building of a very modern and active cultural centre. A great story and a significant precedent.

For further information visit Farnham Maltings website