The Downing’s Malthouses are still standing undeveloped in Gloucester Docks.
G. & W.E. Downing’s Maltings, Docks, Gloucester, c. 1901
It would appear that William Downing left free rein to his two sons to run and expand the family malting business after 1871.
The thriving nature of the enterprise is best borne witness by the extensive buildings in Gloucester Docks. There is an excellent description of the sequence of the construction of these Downing’s Malthouses on the Gloucester Docks web site.
We have a number of original photos that date from this time – including the original of the graphic above. Photos below were taken in 2017.
There were other buildings constructed at Tewkesbury too.
G. & W.E. Downing’s Maltings, Docks, Gloucester, c. 1901. Malthouses No 3 and 4 (‘new’) were built between Merchants Rd and Bakers Quay in 1901, a building on the right is Malthouse No 1 (‘old’) now demolished
G. & W.E. Downing’s Maltings, Docks, Gloucester, c. 1901. North and west sides of the ‘new’ malthouses
G. & W.E. Downing’s Maltings, Docks, Gloucester, c. 1901. South and west sides of the ‘new’ malthouses
G. & W.E. Downing’s Maltings, Docks, Gloucester, Feb 2017. Malthouse No 2 (‘old’) on the east side of Merchants Rd was built in 1895
G. & W.E. Downing’s Maltings, Docks, Gloucester, Feb 2017. Malthouse No 2 (‘old’) on the east side of Merchants Rd was built in 1895
G. & W.E. Downing’s Maltings, Docks, Gloucester, Feb 2017. Offices were built as a part of the ‘new’ malthouses on the west side of Merchants Rd
G. & W.E. Downing’s Maltings, Docks, Gloucester, Feb 2017. Offices were built as a part of the ‘new’ malthouses on the west side of Merchants Rd
G. & W.E. Downing’s Maltings, Docks, Gloucester, Feb 2017. A bridge on the top right over Merchants Rd used to link all 4 malthouses together
G. & W.E. Downing’s Maltings, Docks, Gloucester, Feb 2017. The west side of the ‘new’ malthouses with pillars over the quay
G. & W.E. Downing’s Maltings, Docks, Gloucester, Feb 2017. A view across the quay
