Snape Maltings are a collection of mainly mid 19 th Century buildings on the River Alde,
it's heyday was at the turn of the century when local barley was malted for breweries in
London and as far a field as the continent. It continued in use until 1960 when malting
in this way became uneconomic. The site now houses shops , galleries and the world
famous concert hall that hosts the annual Aldeburgh music festival.

The entrance arch to Snape Maltings.

These 3 buildings are slowly succumbing to the creeping ivy .

Ivy has almost completely covered the information office.

The "Plough and Sail" pub, being so close it must have been very popular with the
malting workers.

Visitors enjoying lunch in the sunshine, 10 minutes later it was pouring with rain.

In the old days this quay would have been lined with sailing barges bringing in coal
and transporting malt away to the breweries. In 1859 much of this trade was curtailed
by the opening of a railway branch line.

Looking down the river Alde, although the sea is only 5 miles away as the crow flies it's
20 miles by river.

In 1967 the largest of the buildings, the grain drying kiln was converted in to a 800 seat
concert hall to house the world famous Aldeburgh music festival, unfortunately on the 1st
night of the 1969 festival the hall burnt down but was rebuilt with improved facilites in
time for the 1970 festival.

..

Modern sculptures adorn the concert hall.The one on the left even makes a good picnic table.