industrial archaeology – Industrial Heritage Networks

Dates for In-person IHN Autumn 2026 Meetings

September 29, 2026September 29, 2026mikenevell

The in-person Industrial Heritage Network meetings, run by the IHSO project, return this autumn, and the first round of dates are now available. These meetings are a great way of meeting fellow industrial heritage people working at industrial heritage and archaeology sites and exchanging experiences.

The themes for this year’s meetings are liaising with schools and adapting to hotter summers. Our first meeting of the season was last month (August), when the North West IHN met at Helmshore Textile Museum, where there was a great turn out and lively discussion. The confirmed dates for the in-person autumn 2026 meetings so far are:

Yorkshire IHN, 30 Sept: National Musuem of Mining, Wakefield
North East IHN, 14 Oct: Locomotion, Shildon
East Midlands IHN, 16 Nov: Taylors Bell Foundry, Loughborough
West Midlands IHN, 17 Nov: Hereford Waterworks Museum, Fareham
South East IHN, 19 Nov: The Brickworks Museum
London IHN, 20 Nov: Postal Museum

If you would like your site to take part in these friendly and free meetings please email the IHSO, Dr Michael Nevell, for more details: michael.nevell@nationaltrust.org.uk

*Delegates attending the North West IHN at Helmshore Textile Museum in August 2026. Image copyright Dr Michael Nevell.*

Windmills & Furnicular Facing Temporary Closures

September 28, 2026mikenevell

Three industrial heritage sites are facing an uncertain future this autumn. Ellis Mill in Lincoln, Whitburn Windmill in South Tyneside, and the Spa Cliff Lift furnicular in Scarborough are all facing temporary closure.

Ellis Mill, which was built in 1798, is the last of nine that once stood on Lincoln’s Yarborough hill and is currently on Historic England’s at-risk register. Lincolnshire County Council, which owns the Grade II listed building, is planning to remove the deteriorating mill cap and sails, and to install a temporary weatherproof structure to maintain its structural integrity, ahead of a decision on repairs. The windmill has only been occasionally open to the public since 2020. A local group has proposed taking over the site. More details here: Lincoln’s ‘at risk’ windmill cap and sails to be removed

The Grade II listed Whitburn Windmill, on South Tyneside, is to have its sails removed due to structural safety concerns. The windmill was damged in a storm over the winter, causing some of the wood to come loose. South Tyneside Council said the sails will be removed in October and its “immediate priority” was to “make the structure safe”. More details here: Whitburn Windmill sails to be removed due to structural concerns

The listed Spa Cliff Lift furnicular in Scarborough was closed in August due to safety fears. North Yorkshire Council, which own the site, said it has taken the difficult decision to close the lift with immediate effect. This followed an independent engineering assessment which identified a number of issues affecting the lift’s aging infrastructure. The council said it will continue to assess the findings and provide further updates in due course. Further details here: Cliff Lift

*The sails and cap at Ellis Windmill, autumn 2024. Image copyright Dr Michael Nevell.*

Amberley Museum and Sankey Canal Looking for Volunteers

September 21, 2026mikenevell

Two industrial heritage sites are looking for volunteers and new Trustees this September: Amberley Musuem and the Sankey Canal Restoration Society.

Amberley Museum, Sussex, is looking for a new Commercial Trustee to join their proactive board and help support the work of this unique open air working museum. They are looking for a new Trustee with a particular knowledge or experience of retail and catering sales and operations to bring those skills to their board. Marketing experience would also be helpful as well as a passion for heritage and the ability to think strategically, assess opportunities and manage risk. Trustees at Amberley Museum work with staff and volunteers, and bring their own knowledge and expertise from any public, private, or voluntary sectors. Trustees need to be able to make adequate time available for this role.

The closing date for applications is 25 September. Email Surrie Everett-Pascoe, Chair of Board of Trustees, for more details here: Surrie.everett-pascoe@amberleymuseum.co.uk or see the Amberley Musuem website: http://www.amberleymuseum.co.uk/

The Sankey Canal Restoration Society (SCRS), St Helens, will be working at the Old Double Lock on Saturday, September 26, and is appealing for people to help out between 10am and 2pm.. The team will be clearing vegetation from the lock and bywash area. Volunteers are asked to meet at Sankey Valley Visitor Centre, 275 Blackbrook Rd, Blackbrook, St Helens, WA11 0AB. The minimum age for participation is 18, but the society asks people to speak to them about opportunities for children. Tools and safety gear will be provided, but people are welcome to bring their own.

For more information, contact Ian Hornby at 07753 289765 or Neil Viggers at 07917 754548. More details here: Sankey Canal Restoration Society

*The limekilns at Amblerley Museum, Sussex. Image copyright Dr Michael Nevell*

*Volunteers working at the Sankey Canal. Image courtesy of the Sankey Canal Trust.*

Record Number of Industrial Heritage Sites Open for Heritage Open Days

September 11, 2026mikenevell

A record number of industrial heritage sites are opening for free as part of the 2026 Heritage Open Days running between the 11 and 20 September. Amongst the more than 250 industrial archaeology and heritage sites opening to the public are three newly renovated museums run by the National Trust in the Ironbridge Gorge (Broseley Clay Pipe Works, Jackfield China Works, The Old Furnace). The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings is also opening for free its Kibworth Harcourt Windmill, whilst English Heritage is making available Sibsey Trader Mill, and the Iron Bridge at Ironbridge.

This year’s Heritage Open Days theme highlights the extraordinary in our ordinary working lives, with more industrial sites open than ever, along with hundreds of exhibitions, walks, and talks on industrial subjects. Those sites open include more than 70 water and wind mills, more than 50 metal working and textile mill sites, and over 30 ceramic, chemical and mines sites.

There are also nearly 100 transport heritage sites open for free to visit (from canals, and railways to tramways), and nearly forty pumping stations and maritime sites.

To find an event, and an industrial site, near you, follow this link: HeritageOpenDays2026

*The newly refurbished Old Furnace and its museum building at Coalbrookdale, Shropshire, which has been re-opened by the Natioanl Trust for Heritage Open Days. Image copyright Dr Michael Nevell.*

Canal Restoration Projects in England Update

September 8, 2026mikenevell

*Open day in July at the Staveley restoration works on the Chesterfield Canal. Image courtesy of the Chesterfield Canal Trust.*

The restoration of Britain’s canals is often thought to have ended with the re-opening of the Huddersfield Narrow Canal, which celebrated this summer 25 years since it re-opened in 2001. However, the 21st century has seen a number of volunteer-led canal restoration projects progress across England and Wales, and several are now nearing the completion of their next stages.

The Chesterfield Canal Trust have been working on restoring the canal since the beginning of this century, and the latest section to be restored is through Staveley town centre, where work continues on rebuilding locks and a canal basin. Details here: Staveley Restoration Works – Chesterfield Canal Trust

The Cotswold Canal Trust continue their work on the ‘missing mile’ project which will see the Stroudwater Navigation waterway restored – alongside locks, bridges, and wetlands – to create a navigable route from the River Severn to River Thames. Work started this summer, after six years of planning, on Phase 1. 750m of new canal are currently being built on a new alignment necessitated by the building of the M5. Further details here: The Missing Mile: 300 Metres Dug and Discoveries Unearthed – Cotswold Canals Trust

The Wiltshire and Berkshire Canal Trust continue their work on restoring 70 miles of canal. The latest addition is the building of a swing bridge at Wichelstowe. Further details here: Wilts&BerksCanalTrust

Finally, the Canal and River Trust continue their work on repairing the January 2025 breach on the Langollen Canal at Whitchurch in Shropshire. Details here: Llangollen Canal Breach Repair Updates | Canal & River Trust

*Missing mile construction east of the M5. Image courtesy of Cotswold Canal Trust.*

National Trust to Re-open Two More Ironbridge Gorge Museums for September 2026 Heritage Open Days

September 1, 2026mikenevell

The National Trust will be re-opening two more Ironbridge Gorge museums in September, as part of the Heritage Open Days events. The Broseley Pipe Works and the Coalport China Museum will be free to explore everyday working lives in partnership with Findmypast as part of the Industrious Women theme. The female work force played an integral part in the ceramic industries, and this event will allow you to not only explore the lives of ordinary working women but also access the Findmypast website to begin to explore your own family history.

Broseley Pipe Works will be open on 11-13 September and 18-20 September for pre-booked guided tours. Guided tours will run on the hour from 11 – 3pm. NT Ironbridge Gorge will also have a copy of a wages ledger from the early 20th century on display along with other archive material. Pre-booking is essential as car parking spaces are limited.

The Coalport China Museum will open 11-13 September and 18-20 of September for pre-booked visits from 10am to 4pm and there will be curator talks and demonstrations, as well as the opportunity to see archive material. Pre-booking is essential as car parking spaces are limited.

To book follow these links:

Industrious Women (Broseley Pipe Works)

Industrious Women (Coalport)

*Coalport China Works by the canal. Image copyright Dr Michael Nevell.*

*Clay pipe making demonstration at the Broseley Pipe Works. Image courtesy of National Trust Ironbridge Gorge.*

Brixton Windmill, Clifton Suspension Bridge, & Cragside Farm Industrial Sites Listed for ‘FindMyPast’s Heritage Open Days Everday Histories’ 2026

August 31, 2026mikenevell

Three industrial sites are amongst the 24 finalists that can be voted for as part of Findmypast’s Heritage Open Days ‘Everday Histories’. Created by a partnership between Heritage Open Days and UK family history website, Findmypast, the ‘Everyday History Heroes!‘ award celebrates the historic and cultural sites that champion the stories of ordinary people – from nurses and miners to teachers, soldiers and changemakers. The award centres on the grassroots histories that often go untold: the individuals and communities who powered industries, stood up for their beliefs, and built modern Britain.

A total of 24 sites and teams have been shortlisted across England, and three of these are industrial sites.

Brixton Windmill is one of London’s last surviving working windmills and a rare reminder of the capital’s agricultural past. The listed building was once surrounded by fields, and supplied flour to generations of local residents before being rescued by the community from decline.

Clifton Suspension Bridge, in Bristol, is a listed engineering icon, with a story of ordinary people – the bakers, dre ssmakers, grocers and tradespeople who invested in its construction.

Cragside Farm is a Northumberland is a farmstead that preserves centuries of rural life, from agriculture and industry to family life and local innovation. The team at the listed Cragend Farm share the stories of the labourers, tenant farmers, and families who lived and worked here, proving that some of the most compelling histories can be found far from grand houses and famous names.

Votong closes today (31 August.). To vote online for either Brixton Windmill, Clifton Suspension Bridge, or Cragside Farm follow this link, chose your region, and click on the site: Vote for your Everyday History Heroes with Findmypast | Findmypast.co.uk

The Resilience and Sustainability of Publically Accessible Industrial Heritage Sites in England: New Report

August 21, 2026mikenevell

A new report on Industrial Heritage Sites in England in 2026, commissioned by Historic England and the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust, has been published. This report, by Heritage Innovation, examines the resilience and sustainability of designated industrial heritage sites across England.

Focussing on designated industrial heritage sites that are accessible and interpreted to the public in England, it is a major update on two previous English Heritage (now Historic England) commissioned reports, carried out in 1998 (by PLB Consulting Ltd) and 2008 (by the late Sir Neil Cossons). Drawing on desk-based research, questionnaires and interviews, its emphasis is on industrial sites open as heritage attractions, including both museums and monuments. There are sections on:

ownership
governance
function
finance
management
access
conservation
interpretation
and marketing

Having considered the findings, it concludes with a series of ten recommendations. These include strengthening advocacy, increased support for the IHSO project, revitalising volunteering, developing technical skills, continued sector monitoring, exploring new approaches to governance and funding, and researching heritage fuels. It also calls for a strategic review to set priorities for the industrial heritage sector over the next 25 years.

The report and its findings will help take forward the work of the Historic England-funded Industrial Heritage Support Officer (IHSO) project, hosted by the Ironbridge Gorge | National Trust (further details on the project here – https://industrialheritagesupport.com/ (this current website) and https://industrialheritagenetworks.com/). The IHSO project is also supported by the The Association for Industrial Archaeology.

Dr Mike Nevell, IHSO, thanked Heritage Innovations for their hard work in pulling together data from a very varied sector, noting that ‘this is the first study of the industrial hertiage sector in a generation. Its findings and recommendations will be of considerable interest to all those involved in the care and public presentation of England’s industrial heritage, especially local authorities and other public bodies, charitable trusts, and volunteer groups’.

To download the report follow this link: https://historicengland.org.uk/research/current/discover-and-understand/industry-and-infrastructure/industrial-heritage-in-england/.

Further details about Heritage Innovation’s other work can be found here: Heritage Innovation | Cultural Heritage Consultancy UK

*The Longwarehouse and Museum of Iron, part of the National Trust Ironbridge Gorge sites taken over in March 2026 from the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust. Image copyright Dr Michael Nevell*

Wiltshire Industrial Archaeology Conference 2026: From Branch Lines to Tram Lines

August 11, 2026mikenevell

The 2026 Wiltshire Industrial Archaeology Conference will take place on 24th October at Devizes Town Hall, which is located on the first floor of the building. It is accessible via a wide staircase, or a platform lift. There is an accessible toilet on the first floor of the building. The programme is as follows:

9.30 am – Registration

10 am – Welcome by Mike Stone Chairman of the Industrial Archaeology Committee at Wiltshire Museum.

10.05 am – The Calne branch and its industries, by Mike Stone. Mike was curator of Chippenham Museum and regularly lectures on a wide range of subjects.

10.50 am – Coffee

11.10 am – History of the Midland South Western Junction Railway, by Nick Baxter MA in Public History. Nick is a retired secondary school history teacher. He gives history talks and guided walks as part of his ‘Wiltshire History Man’ business.

12 noon – The Wantage tramway, by Dr Richard Marks, historian. ‘Industry Past’.

12.50 pm – LUNCH BREAK.
Lunch is not provided, please bring your own, or there are numerous bars and cafes in the Market Place, just a short walk from the Town Hall.

2.15 pm – A compendium of delights relating to the Malmesbury Branch, by Mike Fenton, railway historian.

3 pm – Tea

3.25 pm – The railway, locomotives and history 1916-1919 of the H.M.E.F. Stratton, Swindon: Ammonium Nitrate Explosive Works, research by Colin Judge of the Industrial Railway Society. Presented by Malcolm Holland, local historian.

4.30 pm – Conference ends

To book follow this link: Booking for events – Wiltshire Museum

Ellis Mill, Lincoln, Added to Historic England’s Buildings at Risk Register

August 3, 2026mikenevell

The Grade II* listed Ellis Mill, in Lincoln, has been added to Historic England’s Buildings At Risk Register. The site is owned by Lincolnshire County Council. The brick-built tower windmill was erected in 1798 (although its not the first windmill on this site), and was restored in 1977-80. It contains mill machinery assembled from various local windmills.

The windmill is the last of several windmills that once stood on the hilltop north of the city of Lincoln, and is named after the last miller. It operated as recently as 2020 during the COVID pandemic. A survey carried out in 2021 noted more than £500,000 of repair work required, mainly to the roof and sails. According to the BBC, a public meeting held by The Ellis Mill Rescue Group on Thursday 30 July attracted around 150 people. The Ellis Mill Rescue Group submitted a business case for taking over the windmill to the council in March.

Rob Gibson, deputy leader of Lincolnshire County Council, is quoted as saying: “The council owns four windmills – each one is in a different condition with different management arrangements. We are looking at what the options are for each of these sites. We’ve been pleased to have been in talks with interested groups to give the mills a sustainable future and this work is almost completed. A windmill strategy will be proposed for further engagement in the coming months and we will then be in a position to take decisions on how we progress.” The council’s three other windmills are located in Alford, Heckington, and Burgh-le-Marsh.

More details here: Lincoln Windmill ‘at risk’ after years of neglect

Ellis’s Mill, Non Civil Parish – 1388647 | Historic England

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