Establishing a Typology for the Buildings of the Floor Malting Industry

Abstract

This paper attempts to establish a typology for the buildings of the floor malting industry. To do this one needs to know how malt is made because the various parts of the malting process have often resulted in distinctive external features (component parts). However, although the process is universal, there are differences in the way individual maltings are designed and laid out. These different designs are not random and it is possible to see that the component parts may fit together in certain patterns. This paper examines the different relationships of the component parts of malthouses and establishes a number of different and distinctive types. To ensure valid comparisons can be made the geographical area and the period and depth of the study are stated at the outset.