Category: IHN

IHSO Project Extended to 2026

IHSO Project Extended to 2026

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The Industrial Heritage Support Officer (IHSO) role, occupied by Dr Mike Nevell, has been awarded further funding to enable it to continue its work to preserve England’s industrial heritage. IGMT is delighted that our partners at Historic England and the Association for Industrial Archaeology have agreed to fund the post, which is vital for the support of the wider Industrial Heritage sector and a mark of the importance of IGMT as a leading Industrial Heritage organisation. 

The IHSO project is funded by Historic England and the Association for Industrial Archaeology (AIA), and began in September 2012. It is managed by the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust. The project aims to support the approximately 600 industrial heritage sites preserved and open to the public in England by developing partnerships and promoting best practice, among other things. 

In 2024 the project supported more than 400 sites through one-to-one advice, network meetings, site visits, seminars, websites, and social media. At the end of March the first round of Industrial Heritage Network meetings for 2025 will take place online, and on 25 April, Mike will be talking at an event hosted in Coalbrookdale, organised by the Boiler and Engineering Skills Training Trust, about the need for trained engineers to run industrial heritage sites.

Project highlights for 2025 to 2026 include a major report on the industrial heritage sector in England; more online training seminars to support the sector; and the continuation of the Industrial Heritage Networks. These are key to bringing together people working at industrial sites so that they can exchange experience and best practice.  

For further informatioon about the project renewal follow this link: https://www.ironbridge.org.uk/news/ironbridge-news/ihso-for-england-project-receives-funding-for-2025-2026/

Industrial Heritage Support Officer, Dr Mike Nevell, outside Abraham Darby’s 1709 blast furnace, Coalbrookdale. Image copyright IGMT.

Small Grants Available in 2025 for Industrial Heritage Museums & Sites

Small Grants Available in 2025 for Industrial Heritage Museums & Sites

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The dealines for several grant streams suitable for Industrial Heritage museums and sites occur in early 2025. To catch up with what is available for industrial heritage sites and museums explore the following websites.

Foyle Foundation Small Grants The Small Grants Scheme is provided by the Foyle Foundation to support smaller, grass-roots, and local charities in the UK with projects that have the potential to make a significant difference to their work. Grants range from £2k to £10k and the closing date for applications is 31 January. Find outr mor eby followign this link: https://foylefoundation.org.uk/how-to-apply/small-grants-scheme-guidelines/

The Heritage Alliance, whilst not a funding body in itself, co-manages the Heritage Funding Directory  with the Architectural Heritage Fund. This free resource for the sector includes a directory listing funding sources for heritage projects across the UK (and internationally), and includes some helpful guidance on fundraising.  It is regularly updated, so its worth visiting regularly.

Finally, the Association for Industrial Archaeology runs several annual grant and award schemes specifically for industrial archaeology and heritage, with closing dates at the end of January and the end of March. Follow this link for further details: https://industrial-archaeology.org/aia-awards/

New Dates Added for the Autumn 2024 Round of Industrial Heritage Network Meetings

New Dates Added for the Autumn 2024 Round of Industrial Heritage Network Meetings

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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

The Catalyst Science Dioscovery Centre and Museum, October 2024. Image copyright Dr Michael Nevell.
Industrial Heritage Network Meetings in Person – Autumn 2024

Industrial Heritage Network Meetings in Person – Autumn 2024

mikenevell

The next round of in-person Industrial Heritage Network (IHN) regional meetings will be 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 four in-person IHN meetings will be held this autumn for the following regions:

  • North West England, Catalyst Museum, 25th October 2024.
  • Cornwall & Devon, East Pool Mine, Redruth, 7th November 2024.
  • South West, Westonzoyland, 8th November 2024.
  • West Midlands, Claymills, 22nd November, 2024

Further dates for other regions will be published in October. Regional network members will be emailed details of the venues and how to attend. For further details contact the Industrial Heritage Support Officer for England: mike.nevell@ironbridge.org.uk

Westonzoyland Pumping Station

Industrial Heritage Network Online Meeting Dates 2024

Industrial Heritage Network Online Meeting Dates 2024

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The latest round of online meetings for the Industrial Heritage Networks in England are now taking place. Members will be recieving a ‘save the date’ email this week and then links to the meetings in the following weeks. These meetings are run by the Ironbridge Gorge Musuem Trust as part of the IHSO project. The networks provide a chance for those involved in running and maintaining industrial heritage sites, archaeological monuments, or local societies to get together and discuss current issues and experiences.

One of the current themes being explored by this year’s network meetings is how industrial museums, groups, and those supporting industrial archaeology monuments work with their local authority and how that has changed over the years. Membership of the regional networks is voluntary and free. If you would like to take part please email the IHSO at: mike.nevell@ironbridge.org.uk

Dates for the 2024 Online Industrial Heritage Network meetings:

Wedensday 19 June – London – completed

Wednesday 26 June – North West

Tuesday 2 July – South East

Wednesday 3 July – South West

Monday 8 July – East Midlands

Wednesday 10 July – West Midlands

Monday 15 July – East of England

Tuesday 16 July – Yorkshire

Monday 22 July – Cornwall & Devon

Wednesday 24 July – North East

Industrial Heritage Network Online Meetings For Summer 2024

Industrial Heritage Network Online Meetings For Summer 2024

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The latest round of online Industrial Heritage Network (IHN) meetings will be taking place online over the summer. These free biannual network meetings, covering ten areas in England, began 2018. Since 2020 one meeting per year has been online. The theme for the current round of meetings will be maintenance and skills.

Funded through a grant by Historic England, and run by the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust (IGMT), these forums offer a chance for industrial heritage groups and museums to meet regionally and share common experinces with other sites and people in managing our rich industrial heritage. The dates for the summer round of online meetings is as follows:

  • Wednesday 19th June – London
  • Wednesday 26th June – North West
  • Wednesday 3rd July – South West
  • Monday 8th July – East Midlands
  • Wednesday 10th July – West Midlands
  • Monday 15th July – East of England
  • Tuesday 16th July – Yorkshire
  • Monday 22nd July – Cornwall & Devon
  • Wednesday 26th June – North East
  • Thursday 25th July – South East

Each meeting will start at middaly and last up to one and half hours. IHN members willbe emailed details on how to join by the networks welcome anyone intertetd in learnignmore about the industrial archaeology and heritage of a region. Contact the IHSO, Dr Michael Nevell, at IGMT for more details be email: mike.nevell@ironbridge.org.uk

Autumn 2023 In-Person Industrial Heritage Network Meetings for London, North East, & South East Now Booking

Autumn 2023 In-Person Industrial Heritage Network Meetings for London, North East, & South East Now Booking

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The next three in-person meetings of the Industrial Heritage Networks will be taking place on the 16 and 30 November, and on 13 December 2023. These will be for the London, North East England, and North West England networks. These free events will be the first in-person meetings for these networks since the COVID pandemic, and are being held at the Museum of Docklands in London, Land of Iron at the Cleveland Ironstone Mining, and the Lion Saltworks in Cheshire.

Like the other seven IHN groups in England, these in-person events are designed to bring together those industrial heritage sites open to the public in each region, and local groups and individuals working or volunteering on industrial archaeology and heritage subjects and sites in the area. The format will be a round-table discussion in the morning with a tour of the site in the afternoon.

Details on how to book these free events on Eventbrite can be found here:

For the London IHN meeting on the 16 November follow the link here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/london-industrial-heritage-network-tickets-747309441657?aff=oddtdtcreator

For the North East IHN meeting on the 30 November, follow the link here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/north-east-industrial-heritage-network-tickets-749134329947?aff=oddtdtcreator

For the North West IHN meeting on the 13 December, follow the link here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/north-west-industrial-heritage-network-tickets-751516856147?aff=oddtdtcreator

Spring 2023 Round of Industrial Heritage Network Meetings

Spring 2023 Round of Industrial Heritage Network Meetings

mikenevell

The next round of Industrial Heritage Network (IHN) meetings is taking place over Spring 2023. The IHN networks are a chance to meet, online (and later in 2023 in person), those working, volunteering, or researching in the industrial heritage sector. IHN members will have an opportunity to discuss the theme for this latest round of IHN meetings – how the post-COVID lockdown recovery is impacting industrial heritage sites, large and small. Is it business ‘as usual’ or has the COVID pandemic led to permanent changes in the way sites and organisations deal with the public and staff? How is your site coping with any maintenance backlog, recruiting volunteers, and reaching out to schools?

If your industrial heritage site or group would like to join one of the ten regional Industrial Heritage Networks run in England by the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust, with funding from Historic England and support from the Association for Industrial Archaeology, email the Industrial Heritage Support Officer, Dr Mike Nevell at: mike.nevell@ironbridge.org.uk

Autumn Round of Industrial Heritage Network Meetings, October to December 2022, Starting

Autumn Round of Industrial Heritage Network Meetings, October to December 2022, Starting

mikenevell

The autumn round of online Industrial Heritage Network meetings starts this month (October) with the West Midlands Group. Further meetings in November and December will include the South West, East of England and Yorkshire IHNs. There will be four more IHN meetings in January and February 2023, completing the current cycle.

IHN members will have an opportunity to discuss the theme for this current round of IHN meetings – how the post-COVID lockdown recovery is impacting industrial heritage sites, large and small. Is it business ‘as usual’ or has the COVID pandemic led to permanent changes in the way sites and organisations deal with the public and staff? How is your site coping with any maintenance backlog, recruiting volunteers, and reaching out to schools? We are also gathering data on the strength of visitor numbers in 2022.

Individual members will be emailed details of the timings. If you would like your organisation to be involved with one of the 10 Industrial Heritage networks, then email the IHSO at: mike.nevell@ironbridge.org.uk

Industrial Heritage Support Update, April to June 2021

Industrial Heritage Support Update, April to June 2021

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April saw the second round of COVID-19 recovery grants, with Historic England (HE) distributing over £8m to 64 sites, and Arts Council England (ACE) distributing £13.5 million to 72 sites. Railways accounted for over 50% of the sites receiving support from HE in April, whilst ACE support was spread across a wider range of industrial sites in this round.

Headstocks at Blists Hill, Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust. This was one of the first industrial heritage sites to re-open in Spring 2021.

Smaller sites such as wind and watermills are notable absentees from both lists. However, it should be noted that application for funds in both rounds was entirely voluntary. There are limited reports of further redundancies in the first five months of 2021, but there were fewer reports of vandalism and trespass on industrial heritage sites. 

The 17th May saw further easing of the COVID restrictions for indoor venues and marked the beginning of a mass re-opening of industrial heritage sites in England. As during the summer re-opening of 2020, this was led by the larger open-air industrial museums and the Heritage Railways sector. A rapid online review of industrial archaeology and heritage websites and facebook pages was undertaken at the end of June to assess the level of re-opening of sites. Many industrial sites re-opened between mid-May and the end of June, with roughly 50% open by 30 June. More are planning on re-opening in July and August as restrictions are lifted.

The Industrial Heritage Networks (IHNs) are a key part of the Industrial Heritage Support project, and were set up in 2018 with the help of the Association for Industrial Archaeology and the Association of Independent Museums. These IHNs meet twice a year, online, to discuss current issues and opportunities for those running industrial heritage sites. The first round of online IHN meetings for London, the North West, West Midlands, South West, North East, Cornwall & Devon, and South East were held between October 2020 and April 2021. 82 individuals from 60 organisations took part in these network meetings, with a key theme being the impact of the pandemic on volunteers. A further round of online meetings will be held in the autumn and winter of 2021/22.

IHNs are currently being set up for the East Midlands, East of England, and Yorkshire with online meetings planned for July, August, and September. If you work or volunteer in industrial heritage in these regions and want to get involved in sharing knowledge and experience through the new IHNs, please contact the IHSO, Dr Mike Nevell.