The Last Maltsters

Liz Hamilton visited the last maltsters in Herts, who are keeping the county’s long tradition of malt production alive.

- Liz Hamilton

IN 2016 Campaign to Protect Rural England Herts introduced a new category into its Rural Living Awards – Rural Business in the Community, to recognise companies that have made an outstanding contribution to rural or village life. The first recipient was French and Jupps, maltsters in Stanstead Abbotts near Ware. Responding to the receipt of the award, managing director David Jupp said, ‘It has always been a priority for our company to be a contributor to our local village community and for this to be appreciated is very gratifying’.

French and Jupps was nominated after sponsoring the village car park, enabling its free use. This has helped to sustain the thriving shopping centre with its variety of independents and cafés in, bringing in visitors and freeing up onstreet parking for blue-badge holders.

Aware that it was the last of a once-thriving malting trade in Hertfordshire, I wondered how French and Jupps were able to continue. Talking to David revealed a success story founded on timely decision-making and innovation. His great-grandfather, also David Jupp, expanded the family malting business to Stanstead Abbotts in the later 19th century, but the family has made malt for over 300 years, originally in Sussex and then in London. The name of French came from a local carrier, Margaret French.

A MALTING COUNTY