Wells Maltings

The old malt house still dominates the waterfront at Wells-next-the-Sea, a proper industrial relic that speaks volumes about the port's brewing heritage. Built to process barley for East Anglian breweries, the Maltings is less a visitor attraction in the traditional sense and more a striking piece of local architecture you'll stumble across while exploring the quayside.

What you're looking at is a Victorian-era building that once buzzed with activity - workers turning grain into malt that would feed breweries across Norfolk and Suffolk. Today it stands as a reminder of when this fishing port was equally important for trade inland. The structure itself, with its distinctive tall windows and industrial character, photographs well and gives genuine insight into how ordinary Norfolk communities once made their living.

It's not a destination you'd drive across the county for alone, but if you're staying at Pinewoods Holiday Park just down the road - barely a mile away - a wander down to the Maltings costs nothing and takes twenty minutes. Same goes for The Norfolk Brickyard over at Kelling, though that's a bit further. The real appeal comes when you've got an hour to kill before lunch, or you're interested in industrial heritage and want to understand what made Wells tick beyond fishing boats.

Historically minded visitors and photographers will get more from it than families with restless kids. There's no tearoom or visitor facilities that I'm aware of - it's purely about stepping back and taking in the building from outside. Go at golden hour if you can. The light catches those old brick walls beautifully.