The Maltmaker Statue was erected in 2000 in recognition of the importance of Malting to the town throughout its history.

The surrounding farm land provided excellent barley for the work, but it was also Ware’s position on the River Lea which enhanced its reputation throughout the country.

Brewers in London also owned maltings in Ware, thus ensuring they had the best malt in the country to provide ale and beer to their customers in the capital. Because Ware had a direct link with London, numerous malting companies sent their malt to Ware for sending down the river directly into the heart of London. The damage this did to Ware’s roads was a constant source of complaint to other users of the Old North Road. However, once the roads improved, this diminished the importance of the river, as the road provided a faster mode of transport. Ware’s reputation as a malting town continued to grow.

The last working malting in the town was destroyed by fire in 1988 bringing to a close Ware’s long history of the trade.