Page 650 - Aldeburgh Festival 2022 FINAL COVERAGE BOOK

The site went into decline after World War Two and was put up for sale in 1965.

The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh formally opened the Snape Maltings concert hall in
1967, with composer Benjamin Britten (far right)

The largest of the former malthouses was converted into a concert hall by the
Aldeburgh Festival organisation, which was founded in 1948 by composer Benjamin
Britten, singer Peter Pears and opera librettist and theatrical director Eric Crozier,
and had previously been staged in much smaller venues.

The wider Snape Maltings site is now home to independent shops, art galleries, a
pub and cafes.

The concert hall, which has a seated capacity of about 800 has been upgraded from
Grade II to Grade II* by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport on the
advice of Historic England.

Heritage minister Nigel Huddleston called it a "valuable asset to its community after
being transformed into a much-loved concert hall and visitor attraction".

Harry Young, Britten Pears Arts chief operating officer, said the listed status update
was "in recognition of its importance and national significance".

"We consider it a huge privilege to be custodians of this special site, always guided
by the vision of our founders Benjamin Britten and Peter Pears," he said.