Three new dates have been added to the next round of in-person Industrial Heritage Network (IHN) regional meetings taking place this autumn. These regional network meetings take place twice a year in the spring (online) and in the autumn (in-person). They are a chance to bring together volunteers and professionals from industrial heritage sites around England to exchange experiences, catch up with the latest news and practices, and make or renew contacts. There are ten regional networks in England run by the IHSO project at the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust, and funded by Historic England, with the support of the Association for Industrial Archaeology.
The first of the free autumn 2024 in-person network meetings took place for the North West IHN at The Catalyst Science Discovery Centre and Museum, Widnes, on the 25th October. After a lively disussion ranging across volunteers, maintenance costs, and visitor numbers, a group of us were given a tour of the museum finishing at the observation room at the top of the listed museum block, with its impressive views of Widnes and the Mersey estuary. Many thanks to the museum and its staff for hosting an excellent day and the chance to re-connect with colleagues from across the North West region.
The dates for the five further in-person IHN meetings to be held this autumn are as follows:
- Cornwall & Devon, East Pool Mine, Redruth, 7th November 2024.
- South West, Westonzoyland Pumping Station, Bridgewater, 8th November 2024.
- West Midlands, Claymills Pumping Station, Burton-upon-Trent, 22nd November, 2024
- East Midlands, Heckington Windmill, Lincolnshire, 3rd December, 2024
- Yorkshire, National Mining Museum, Wakefield, 6th December 2024
Further dates for other regions will be published in the new year. Regional network members will be emailed details of the venues and how to attend. However, if you would like to join the networks and take part in any of these meetings please email the Industrial Heritage Support Officer for England: mike.nevell@ironbridge.org.uk
Industrial Heritage Networks 