industrial archaeology – Page 11 – Industrial Heritage Networks

Heritage Open Days 2024: Hundreds of Industrial Heritage Sites Open

September 2, 2024September 2, 2024mikenevell

The 2024 edition of Heritage Open Days takes place from the 6th to the 15th September. Billed as England’s largest festival of history and culture, thousands of local volunteers and organisations are opening more than 1500 sites for free to the public. This year’s event includes more than 230 industrial heritage sites in England.

More industrial heritage sites than ever before are offering free access to their sites and professional and volunteers expertise, under this year’s theme of ‘routes, networks, and connections’. This includes over 70 transport sites, more than 50 chemical, extractive and metal working sites, over 30 water-powered corn mills, over 30 maritime and utility sites, more than 20 wind mills, and over than 20 textile sites.

Heritage Open Days are a chance for the public to explore England’s rich heritage, and the peopel involved in preserving and presenting it, with over 2,000+ organisers arranging events. To search for an industrial heritage site open during the festival, follow this link: Heritage Open Days.

*The Coalbrookdale Museum is one of the sites taking part in 2024. Access is open for free on the 7th & 8th September.*

‘Scuttled’: New Audio Drama To Be Launched Based on the Archaeology Excavations of Rochdale Canal Barges

August 28, 2024September 4, 2024mikenevell

*The excavation of the stern of Boat A at the Rochdale Canal Basin, October 2022. Image courtesy of MOLA.*

An audio drama based on archival research and excavations of 19th century barges in the Rochdale Canal basin, and starring Christopher Eccleston & Joyce Branagh, is to be launched on the 4th September 2024. Five northern writers collaborated with the Museum of London Archaeology (MOLA) and North West production company Bamalam CIC to produce a professional audio drama entitled ‘Scuttled’ as 5×30 minute episodes. It tells the story of a single family living and working on the Rochdale Canal between 1840 and 1922.

‘Scuttled’ was produced by Bamalam Productions and one of the archaeologists involved in the dig, Kelly Griffiths. It is written by Ian Winterton with Neil Bell, Isabel Hague, Janine Lanek, Katie Moore and Paul Rigby, with input from Rochdale Local Studies and the children of St Edward’s School, Rochdale.

The drama is based upon the excavation of the Rochdale Canal basin undertaken in October 2022 by MOLA, ahead of redevelopment works. The partial remains of six vessels were excavated in the canal basin, with two types present; Mersey Flat Type flat dumb barges and a composite iron and wooden framed pontoon or float. The flats dated from the mid-19th century with the float likely from a later date. The vessels were abandoned in 1921 when the Rochdale Canal Company ceased to trade. The site demonstrated how vessels at the end of their life were abandoned and likely exploited for reusable parts.

The link to episode one is here: https://audioboom.com/posts/8564866-scuttled-episode-one

For more details on the project and drama, follow this link: https://www.mola.org.uk/get-involved/iaa-grants/creative-residencies/scuttled-life-rochdale-canal

The Canals and Waterways of Lancashire Day School, November 2024

August 22, 2024August 22, 2024mikenevell

The Lancashire Local History Federation, with the Leeds & Liverpool Canal Society, are running a day school on the 2nd November on theme ‘The canals and waterways of Lancashire’. This is to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the opening of the first section of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal from Parbold to Wigan.

Talks on the day will cover the historical importance of Lancashire’s industrial waterways, the construction of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal, the Douglas Navigation, canal traffic and traders, and the Lancaster Canal. The Day School will be held at the Preston Masonic Hall in Preston, Lancashire, from 10am to 4pm.

The booking form is below, or you can email the Day School organiser here: elizoelaw@gmail.com

SERIAC 2024 Conference Now Booking

August 19, 2024mikenevell

The 2024 South East Regional Industrial Archaeology Conference (SERIAC) is being held on the 12th October at Chichester College. SERIAC is an association of Industrial Archaeology and related societies based in the South East of England. Since 1983, a member society has organised an annual day conference.

This year’s event is being hosted by the Sussex Industrial Archaeology Society. The one day conference will include talks on: railways to Chichester; Portsmouth Dockyard; and the Bursledon Brickworks. There will also be a post-conference walk around Chichester’s canal basin.

Book online here: https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/seriac2024

Further details about the day can be found here: www.sussexias.co.uk/seriac2024

Industrial Heritage Themed HE Research Magazine Published

July 29, 2024mikenevell

The latest online issue of Historic England’s Research Magazine contains a number of articles on industrial heritage. Shane Gould, Historic England’s Head of Industrial Heritage Strategy, introduces Issue 26 of Historic England Research Magazine, which explores aspects of industrial heritage, as well as Palaeolithic landscapes, and the relationship between intertidal heritage and biodiversity.

The industrial heritage and archaeology articles are by authors who have recently had titles published by Historic England and Liverpool University. These are papers on the Soho Manufactory, Mint and Foundry in the West Midlands by George Demidowicz; steam-powered water and sewage works by James Douet; the built environment in Lancashire’s historic textile areas by Geoff Timmins; and oasts kilns, hop kilns, and maltings by Amber Patrick. They showcase Historic England’s strong and continuing record in undertaking research, and preparing advice, guidance and publications on England’s industrial heritage.

To read this latest issue follow this link: https://historicengland.org.uk/whats-new/research/introduction-to-issue-26/ Earlier issues can also be downloaded from the HE website.

Sandfields Pumping Station Engine Appeal

July 16, 2024July 15, 2024mikenevell

The Lichfield Waterworks Trust has launched an online appeal to restore the magnificent Cornish Pumping Engine at Sandfields Pumping Station. The engine is currently seized solid after not moving for many decades. However, whilst the Lichfield Waterworks Trust have the expertice to to repair the engine they need money for materials and a means to move the engine.

Lichfield Waterworks Trust is a group of volunteers dedicated to preserving Sandfields Pumping Station with its fascinating history and unique Victorian Pumping Engine. The Trust aims to open access to the Sandfields Pumping Station for public use, including education, arts performance, and community development. At the heart of this public access will be the pumping engine. This engine is one of only four left in the entire country. Built by Jonah & George Davies in Tipton and installed in 1873, it worked for 50 years, pumping clean water to the Black Country during the Industrial Revolution to help eradicate Cholera. The engine was taken out of service in 1927 and has not moved for almost 100 years.

You can help them restore the engine by donating through their Crowdfunder page by following this link:

https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/lichfield-waterworks-trust-1160876

Heritage Open Days, 2024: Still Time to Register Your Industrial Site

July 15, 2024mikenevell

There’s still time to register your industrial heritage site for 2024’s Heritage Open Days. Last year more than 200 industrial heritage sites took part, offering free events across England, and raising awareness about their activities and history.

Overall, there were more than 923,000 festival visits across 5,282 heritage events in England – the highest number of visitors for England’s largest festival of history and culture ever recorded. More details for the 2023 event here: https://heritageopendays.org.uk/resource/festival-review-2023.html

Heritage Open Days offers free access to organisers to a wide range of support materials and guidance including bunting and risk assessment templates. Its also a chance to connect with people across the country, with over 2,000+ organisers meeting to share ideas.

For more details about online registration by 8 August follow this link: https://bit.ly/England_Heritage_Open_Days_2024

Festival of Archaeology 2024 Starts 13th July

July 11, 2024July 10, 2024mikenevell

The 2024 Festival fo Archaeology, run by the Council for British Archaeology, will run from the 13th July to the 28th July across the UK. The Festival incorporates hundreds of in-person and virtual events delivered by community groups, heritage organisations, universities, commercial units across the UK.

This year’s festival theme is archaeology and community, and since the Council for British Archaeology (CBA) will be celebrating its 80th anniversary in 2024 its the perfect opportunity to celebrate the grassroots groups, societies, and individuals that share a passion for archaeology across the UK. https://www.archaeologyuk.org/festival.html

Several industrial archaeology and heritage sites are taking part this year. These include the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust who are running a free open day at Coalbrookdale, sponsored by the Association for Industrial Archaoelogy, and the National Trust who have an open day at Force Crag Mine in Cumbria. Other free industrial events include an animation workshop at Nenthead mines in Cumbria and a variety of talks and walks.

To locate an industrial archaeology event close to you follow this link: https://www.archaeologyuk.org/festival/festival-event-listing.html

Festival of Archaeology 2024: Free Entry to the Museum of Iron, Coalbrookdale, 27 July

July 4, 2024July 3, 2024mikenevell

As part of the national Festival of Archaeology 2024, organised by the Council for British Archaoelopgy, the 27th July will see free entry to Coalbrookdale Museum of Iron, as the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust (IGMT) hosts a special day-long event.

A series of talks, walks, and tours will take place throughout the day, and local historical and archaeological societies and groups will be on-site talking to visitors about their work.

Find out more on the IGMT website: https://bit.ly/3L6QHes

This event is sponsored by the Association for Industrial Archaeology.

hashtag#FestivalOfArchaeology hashtag#Coalbrookdale hashtag#Museums hashtag#IndustrialArchaeology

The Great Engine House Project: London Museum of Water & Steam

July 1, 2024mikenevell

The London Museum of Water and Steam (LMWS) has launched a funding appeal for its ‘Great Engine House Project’. The Great Engine House is home to the Grand Junction 100 Inch and the 90 Inch beam engines which pumped clean water into the homes of millions of Londoners between 1838 and 1944.

The Museum is based in a Georgian water pumping station in Brentford, West London, and is home to a large collection of steam engines. Described by DCMS as “the most important historic site of the water supply industry in Britain” the LMWS shares the history, science, and the stories behind London’s public water supply.

Now it needs public help to preserve this internationally important collection. The Museum has a funding and maintenance backlog due to the COVID lockdowns and lack of funds for expensive scaffolding. The Grade I listed Engine House and the two huge beam engines it contains have all suffered significant degredation over the last few years.

The ‘Great Engine House Project’ aims to return the engine house to a watertight state, remove damaging past repairs, conserve the engines and improve their environmental conditions, improve accessibility, remove any materials containing asbestos, and reduce carbon emissions from running the engines.

To donate follow this link: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/great-engine-house

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