Industrial heritage – Industrial Heritage Networks

Next Greenwich Industrial History Society Free Online Talk – 10 March

March 6, 2026March 6, 2026mikenevell

The next Greenwich Industrial History talk will be on Tuesday 10th March – 19.15 for 19.30. Jeffrey Borinsky will be talking about the Broadcast Engineering Museum, the 100th anniversary of Baird’s first demonstration of television and 90 years since the start of the world’s first regular high definition TV service from Alexandra Palace. The Broadcast Engineering Museum is a hands-on museum where many exhibits are working.

Jeffrey Borinsky spent his working life designing equipment for use in TV studios. He is one of the founding trustees of the Broadcast Engineering Conservation Group. The BECG started the Broadcast Engineering Museum in 2021. The free talk – by Zoom, and open to members and non-members of GIHS – will start at 19:15 for 19:30 on Tuesday 10th March. For details of how to register, see below.

How to reserve your place for this free online talk

You can book a place now by emailing greenwichindustrial@gmail.com with the subject line “GIHS Broadcasting Engineering Museum talk”. Zoom log-in details will be sent just before the talk starts.

Friends of Bennerley Viaduct Launch Crowdfunder to Build New Footbridge

March 4, 2026March 3, 2026mikenevell

The Friends of Bennerley Viaduct were formed in 2019 as a community charity to help save and make accessible the Bennerley Viaduct and its surrounding environment. The Bennerley Viaduct is a Grade II* listed former Railway Viaduct connecting Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire through the towns of Kimberley and Ilkeston. The Friends‘ goal is to preserve the viaduct and its immediate surrounding area for future generations. As part of this aim they are looking to secure funding to create a new crossing over the River Erewash and to pay for materials that will help to secure the river bank that the bridge will cross.

Not only will the new footbridge over the River Erewash increase access to the viaduct and its surrounding environment, but it will also help to secure the riverbank to prevent its erosion, and so help to secure the future of the viaduct. The Friends target is £10,000, which will act as match-funding for a National Lottery Heritage Fund bid.

To contribute follow this link: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/new-footbridge-next-to-bennerley-viaduct-second-pledge

*Image of the proposed new footbridge beneath the ‘iron giant’. Image courtesy of the Friends of Bennerley Viaduct.*

Museum Association Bids Farewell to the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust

March 3, 2026mikenevell

The 2nd March 2026 marked the start of a new era within the Ironbridge Gorge World Heritage Site, as the National Trust took over the 10 museums, 35 scheduled monuments and listed buildings, and 400,000 archives of the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust (IGMT). The museums closed for the last time under IGMT control on the 22 February, which was marked by a special parade and ceremony of staff, volunteers, and friends at Blists Hill open air museum, the final site to close on that day.

To celebrate 60 years of the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust, the Museums Association interviewed the Collections team for their thoughts on IGMT and its legacy. You can read the full article, and reminescences by Kate Cademan (Collections Curator) and Jo Smith (Registrar), here: https://www.museumsassociation.org/museums-journal/people/2026/02/bidding-farewell-to-the-ironbridge-gorge-museum-trust/#

The National Trust is planning a phased reopening of each site over the following months. The  anticipated reopening timeline is as follows:   

Museum of the Gorge and Toll House from late April 2026 
Blists Hill, Museum of Iron and The Old Furnace from mid-May 2026 
Enginuity from summer 2026 (school visits from April 2026) 
Coalport China Museum, Jackfield Tile Museum, Darby Houses, Tar Tunnel and Broseley Pipeworks will open later.

Further details here: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/shropshire-staffordshire/our-work/our-work-in-shropshire/ironbridge-museums

**Staff, volunteers, and friends gather at Blists Hill to say farewell to IGMT, on 22 February 2026.**

SAVE Britain’s ‘Heritage Buildings at Risk Register’ – Call for Entries

February 26, 2026February 25, 2026mikenevell

SAVE Britain’s Heritage has issued a call for nominations for historic buildings at risk which will be considered for their 2026 Buildings at Risk register. SAVE want to bring attention to historic buildings at risk across the UK.

They are interested in vacant or partially vacant historical buildings that are at risk from stalled projects, neglect or lack of action. Unlike some other risk registers, the building does not need to be listed to be eligible,l which means that many threatened industrial structures could be included. Their central aim is to raise awareness of these forgotten spaces and provide a platform to advocate for their retention and reuse.

To nominate a building:

Click on this link to the ‘Buildings at Risk’ register on their website
Check if your building is already on SAVE Britain’s Heritage Buuildings at Risk Register
If it’s not already on the Register, fill in a quick form with what you know including a (copyright-free) photograph and as much address information as you can.
You can also email your nomination to: amy.popham@savebritainsheritage.org

Historic Grimsby Maltings Conservation & Conversion Complete

February 24, 2026mikenevell

The transformation of the derelict Grade II-listed West Haven Maltings and Migar House in Grimsby into the Horizon Youth Zone has been completed. The conversion provides children and young people across North East Lincolnshire with access to sports, arts, music, and maker facilities. The multi-million-pound project officially opened on 14 February, blending heritage preservation with community use. Read more here.

Once abandoned and fire-damaged, the 19th-century site has been restored and repurposed thanks to support from the Architectural Heritage Fund via its ‘Transforming Places through Heritage’ programme. Other funders of the Horizon Youth Zone site included Historic England, National Lottery Heritage Fund, The Youth Investment Fund, Evergreen Life, St. James’s Place Charitable Foundation, Ørsted and Greencoats Wind UK.

Horizon Youth Zone is an independent charity and is part of the OnSide network of 15 Youth Zones nationwide, which support over 50,000 young people annually.

Thelisted West Haven Maltings was constructed as a granary and office between 1821 and 1838. It was later converted for use as a maltings, with the addition of a kiln to the north elevation. Migar House was built as a grain warehouse with grain crushing capabilities between 1879 and 1887. The building remained in use as a maltings until the 1920s. After a period of abandonment and negelect the site was listed in 1975, although conservation works did not start until the 21st century.

*The Grimsby Maltings during restroation and conversion. Image copyright Historic England.*

Eskdale Mill & Heritage Trust Fund Raiser

February 20, 2026mikenevell

An online fundraiser has been set up to help the Eskdale Mill and Heritage Trust to raise funds to run community events and support their volunteers in sharing the mill with the public and local community in 2026.

Dating back to at least 1578, and located alongside Whillan Beck in Boot, Cumbria, the stone-built Grade II* listed Eskdale Mill demonstrates 500 years of water power and the traditional craft of corn milling. Last commercially worked during the 1930s to supply animal feed to local farmers, the mill still produces its own flour and has a modern hydro-electric waterwheel making it possible to continue to harness energy through water power. It is the last remaining working water-powered corn mill in the Lake District National Park.

Further details on how to donate here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/community-events-and-volunteering-in-2026?attribution_id=sl:db5ff4c1-225d-4850-a2ba-60db8108f385&lang=en_GB&ts=1770758294&utm_campaign=man_sharesheet_dash&utm_medium=customer&utm_source=twitter

Free Heritage Carbon Webinars & Training for Industrial Heritage Organisations

February 15, 2026February 13, 2026mikenevell

Historic England continues to offer Heritage Carbon Literacy training, and free places on two new workshops: ‘How to Measure a Carbon Footprint’ and ‘How to Write a Carbon Reduction Plan’. Both are designed especially for heritage organisations, such as industrial sites, who are just starting out on their carbon reduction journey. Find out more and sign up here – https://historicengland.org.uk/education/training-skills/training/training-courses/carbon-reduction-training-for-the-heritage-sector/

Historic England has also published new guidance, factsheets, and resources to help cultural and heritage organisations develop Decarbonisation Plans for their heritage buildings. Developed by architects Haworth Tompkins through a co-funded Arts Council England and Historic England project, the free resources can be accessed here – https://historicengland.org.uk/advice/climate-change/your-organisation-to-net-zero/developing-a-decarbonisation-plan/.

To accompany the resources HE are running a series of free webinars in March and April to go through the different steps in the decarbonisation process. More information and booking links here – https://historicengland.org.uk/education/training-skills/training/training-courses/carbon-reduction-training-for-the-heritage-sector/

Finally, Historic England is delivering a series of Heritage Carbon Reduction webinars. These have been developed especially for the heritage sector as part Historic England’s programme of Carbon Reduction training to help organisations reduce their carbon emissions. Topics include ‘How to get Trustee buy-in for your carbon reduction plan’, ‘Tenant/Landlord collaboration in lowering emissions’, and ‘Soil emissions in archaeology’. Training on further topics will be announced later in the year. Everyone is welcome to attend these free training sessions. If you can’t make it recordings will also be available on the Historic England website. Booking links here – https://historicengland.org.uk/education/training-skills/training/training-courses/carbon-reduction-training-for-the-heritage-sector/

*Urban air pollution. Image copyright Historic England Archve.*

*Stormy seas crashing against a historic quayside. Image copyright Historic England Archive.*

AIA Events in 2026: Norwich Annual Conference

February 12, 2026February 12, 2026mikenevell

The Association for Industrial Archaeology’s (AIA) 2026 conference will be based at Norwich, England, from the 4th to 9th September. The East Anglian counties of Norfolk, Suffolk, and Cambridgeshire have a rich history of Industrial Heritage including wind and water mills, maritime and port industries, agriculture, and the associated manufacture of agricultural machinery and food processing.

The 2026 programme will follow the usual format, starting on the Friday evening with an informal dinner followed by a talk introducing the Industrial Heritage of East Anglia. On Saturday there will be a full day of talks on local topics, presentations to and by award winners, and the Conference Dinner. On Sunday morning there will be AIA’s AGM followed by the Rolt Lecture. From Sunday afternoon until Wednesday lunchtime there will be a number of site visits across the three counties. Lunches, informal evening dinners and talks are included. Full details and booking will be available on the conference pages of the AIA website in due course. Recordings of the 2025 Bradford Conference are now available on the AIA YouTube channel.

For more information, including booking details, please visit the events pages of the AIA website.

*View of Carrow Works and the River Wensum, Norwich c 1870. The home of Colman’s Mustard (unknown artist). From the Norfolk Museums Collections*

Catalyst Science Discovery Centre & Museum Looking for Volunteers

February 3, 2026February 3, 2026mikenevell

Catalyst Science Discovery Centre and Museum, in Widnes, is seeking to expand its team of volunteers as part of the National Lottery Heritage Fund ‘Synergy Project’. The museum hopes to increase volunteer numbers from 24 to 70 by the end of 2027.

Heather Royle, volunteer coordinator at Catalyst, told Runcorn and Widnes World: “Our volunteers play a vital role in helping visitors have a memorable experience. There are so many different roles available, so there really is something for everyone. With all the exciting changes happening through the Synergy Project, this is a brilliant time to get involved.”

No previous experience is needed, and volunteers are only asked to give a couple of hours a week. Full training, coaching, and ongoing support are provided. Roles include helping with events and activities, engaging visitors through science “busking” in the interactive galleries, preparing workshops, supporting the café, and preserving the museum’s archives. Additional opportunities include helping maintain the historic 1860s building and welcoming visitors.

The Synergy Project will transform the museum’s ‘Birth of an Industry’ gallery into an immersive, interactive space bringing the story of the chemical industry to life. Anyone interested in volunteering can contact Heather Royle at heather.royle@catalyst.org.uk for more information.

*The Catalyst Science Centre & Museum. Image copyright Dr Michael Nevell*

Industrial Heritage Networks Online – Spring Dates for 2026

January 30, 2026mikenevell

The next round of online Industrial Heritage Network (IHN) meetings will provide a lunchtime opportunity to connect in Spring 2026. The IHNs are a vital part of the Industrial Heritage Support Project (IHSO), providing an opportunity for individuals, both professional and volunteer, working at Industrial Heritage sites in England to get together to exchange experiences and catch up with the latest trends in the sector.

This Spring’s online Industrial Heritage Network meetings will be taking place during later February and March at a midweek lunchtime, 1pm to 2pm. Those attending are very welcome to bring a drink and a sandwich whilst we spend an hour talking about updates from individual sites, as well as current trends. The date for the 10 IHN online meetings are as follows:

24 February – West Midlands IHN
25 February – East Midlands IHN
3 March – East of England IHN
4 March – London IHN
11 March – Yorkshire IHN
12 March – South East IHN
17 March – North West IHN
18 March – Cornwall & Devon IHN
26 March – South West IHN
27 March – North East IHN

Network members will be emailed joining details nearer the time. For queries about joining the Industrial Heritage Networks, please email the IHSO, Dr Michael Nevell, at: mike.nevell@mikenevell.org.uk

The IHSO project, which runs the IHNs, is funded by grants from Historic England and the Association for Industrial Archaeology, and is based at the Ironbridge Gorge Museums in Shopshire, England.

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Category: Industrial heritage