Industrial heritage – Page 2 – Industrial Heritage Networks

Industrial Heritage Sites Among those Eligible for £2.5m Tree Planting Fund

July 22, 2026July 21, 2026mikenevell

The Tree Council and Defra are working in partnership to deliver the Trees Outside Woodland Fund for the 2026/27 planting season. The fund’s purpose is to establish trees outside woodland to create or enhance green spaces using a range of tree sizes, species, and planting types. This is the seond year of the fund, which has more than doubled from its first year. The fund offers grants to local authority and charity-led projects in England, including heritage sites.

The fund offers grants of between £10,000 and £40,000 for tree, hedgerow, and orchard establishment projects. It supports the planting of trees in locations including parks, playgrounds, and streets meaning that medium to large-sized industrial heritage charities, with an annual income or turnover of more than £100,000, and suitable spaces, are eligible to apply. Among the projects funded in the 2025/26 year was Avebury Manor Garden in Wiltshire, a National Trust heritage site, which received support to become more climate-resilient following flooding in 2024.

For 2026/27, applications must show clear benefit to communities and demonstrate how plantings will enhance biodiversity. Successful applicants must meet a Biosecure Procurement Requirement, ensuring newly planted trees are sourced from Plant Healthy certified nurseries or have a Ready to Plant assessment voucher. A one-stage application process has been introduced.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, with the fund open until 31 October 2026 or until all funding has been allocated. More details about the fund can be found here: Trees Outside Woodland Fund – The Tree Council

Summer Industrial Heritage Exhibitions to Visit

July 20, 2026July 20, 2026mikenevell

As the summer holidays approach, and the festival of archaeology begins, there are many exhibitions at industrial heritage sites and museums available to visit. Here are three industrial heritage sites showcasing restored buildings, images of industry, and local communities.

Shuttles, Steam and Soot premiered at Queen Street Mill Textile Museum from 8 July 2026 before touring to other Lancashire locations. This facsimile exhibition recreates an original touring show from the 1970s, when these extraordinary photographs were taken, documenting working life in Queen Street Mill, Bancroft Shed in Barnoldswick and even atop a 150 foot chimney stack! Follow this link: Daniel Meadows: Shuttles, Steam and Soot – Pendle Radicals

The Staffordshire Potteries Water Board and Potteries Central Savings Bank is hosting pop-up exhibitions, beginning with artwork produced by students from Pinc College, which runs creative study programmes for neurodivergent young people. Known as One Bethesda, building restoration charity Re-Form Heritage, which runs Middleport Pottery, is working with its owner on future possible uses. Further details here: One Bethesda comes to life with Free Pinc College Pop-Up exhibition this Summer!

The Lion Salt Works is presenting an online exhibition about the history and uses of salt, A Brine Romance. To visit the exhibition follow this link: A Brine Romance | West Cheshire Museums

*One of the preserved open pans at the Lion Salt Woks, Cheshire. Image copyright Dr Michael Nevell.*

Festival of Archaeology 2026: Industrial Sites & Events

July 14, 2026mikenevell

The 2026 Festival of Archaeology, organised by the Council for Brityish Archaeology (CBA), includes more than 1200 events running from 18th July to 2nd August. Amongst these are many industrial archaoelogy and heritage related events.

Amongst the industrial archaeology and heritage events are:

Excavation of a small late 18th/early 19th century tile kiln and associated anomalies, Shorne Woods Country Park, Gravesend, Kent
Pinkery Canal Excavation, Exmoor National Park, built 1819-20, 8km long, and highest canal built in England
Archaeology Lab at Queens Street Mill, Lancashire
Tour of Wigston Framework Knitters Museum, Leics

There are also many talks and walks on industrial subjects across England and Wales. To explore the events on offer for the Festival follow this link: Festival of Archaeology Council for British Archaeology

The theme for the 2026 CBA Festival of Archaeology is “Archaeology and Nature”. Archaeology and nature are interconnected revealing how humans have lived with, shaped, and been shaped by the environment around them. By exploring the past using the climate, geology, animals, plants, landscapes and the effect of nature on archaeological sites and buildings today, we can understand how places and communities evolve and develop.

The Council for British Archaeology (CBA) is a leading educational charity dedicated to championing and promoting engagement in archaeology and supporting grassroots archaeologists across the UK. Established in 1944, they have a long history of championing public participation in archaeology, aiming to connect diverse communities with the heritage of our shared past.

DCMS Launches Call for Evidence for National Lottery Future Funding Model

July 13, 2026July 20, 2026mikenevell

The UK Government has launched a call for evidence on National Lottery Good Causes funding to help shape its future investment priorities. The 12-week consultation, National Lottery Good Causes: Fund What Matters To You, is open to members of the public, organisations, and community groups across the UK. This is the first major review of National Lottery Good Causes funding in more than 20 years.

The National Lottery is a crucial source of funding for museums and heritage. Since being established in 1994 it has awarded £9.5bn to more than 53,000 projects across the UK via the National Lottery Heritage Fund. This includes hundreds of industrial heritage sites and projects in England alone.

The UK Government is asking lottery players, organisations, and communities for views on what is working and how funding could be improved in the future. The review aims to make funding more accessible and give local people a greater say in how money is used in their communities. Under legislation, heritage receives 20% of annual National Lottery Good Causes distributions.

The consultation is open until 23 September 2026. More details about the call for evidence and how to contribute here: Public to have their say on National Lottery Good Causes – GOV.UK

To respond to the call follow this link: (Call for Evidence) National Lottery Good Causes – Fund What Matters To You

Arts Council England: Museum Checklist Guidance for Dealing with Local Government Reorganisation

June 29, 2026mikenevell

Arts Council England (ACE) has shared a checklist to support museums in preparing for the challenges and opportunities of Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) during the years 2026-28. This support is designed to help leaders in local authority-owned and operated museum services, as well as independent museums, gather critical information about their museums and services.

The checklist includes operations, risks, responsibilities and value, and will be essential for future planning within new authority structures. It will help museums’ on advocating for their sites and services by looking at: service operations; risks and responsibilities; and the value the museum delivers.

There is also a dedicated section (Action 10) for independent and local authority reliant museums, helping them to strengthen their case and advocate effectively for continued support in the new landscape.

To download the full ACE checklist follow this link: Museums readiness checklist for Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) | Arts Council England

ABTEM – Support for Transport & Engineering Museums

June 15, 2026mikenevell

The Association of British Transport and Engineering Museums (ABTEM) and London Transport Museum are offering specialist support to museums with industrial, transport, or engineering related collections in the form of online advice sessions, email support, and physical visits. ABTEM is a non-profit-making group that exists to provide a forum for the discussion of matters of common interest to transport and engineering museums and to provide a means of representing their views on issues of national and regional concern and is recognised by the Arts Council England (ACE) as a Subject Specialist Network (SSN). They hold regular meetings at museums and heritage sites in the UK.

Lis Chard-Cooper is an ABTEM Committee member and the Vehicles and Engineering Curator, LTM, is now able to offer support sessions to the wider sector. Lis has over 25 years’ experience working with a range of different industrial, science and engineering collections across the country. She has been a peer reviewer, adviser and museum mentor on many occasions.

Industrial objects can often be overlooked in a general collection or staff feel less confident with handling them or concerned with the hazards they might pose. If you are a museum or member of staff with lots or simply just one or two big things but who have little experience or time, please do reach out. The support on offer can take whatever form is most useful to the enquirer, for example a “virtual tea and biscuits” online advice sessions, quick email support answering conservation or storage questions or even a follow up physical visit to a site within the UK. It could be help with collection reviews, or help connecting to a specialist for detailed advice.

Although no charge is made for the time devoted to this support activity, ABTEM would like the recipient museum to complete a short survey to help shape the future support it can offer. Should any on-site visits be needed the recipient museum will be expected to cover any travel costs.

If you have a question or want some guidance, please email your query to: elisabeth.chardcooper@ltmuseum.co.uk

For further details follow these links:

ABTEM Guidelines: GUIDELINES FOR THE CARE OF LARGER & WORKING HISTORIC OBJECTS

Applications Open for Latest Round of UK Government Heritage Funding

June 10, 2026mikenevell

Two funds, which can help restore and re-purpose industrial heritage sites, have been announced by the UK Government. Historic England will distribute the Heritage at Risk Capital Fund as in previous years. The Architectural Heritage Fund will distribute the Heritage Revival Fund in partnership with Historic England.

The Heritage at Risk Capital Fund has opened for a second round. The fund prioritises projects that restore heritage sites serving disadvantaged communities and which demonstrate local benefits. Up to £15 million in funding is available this year (2026), as part of a total £75 million fund. Following the successful first year of the fund, which saw £15 million invested in projects across England, up to £60 million remains available for allocation over the next 4 years, to 2030. Expressions of Interest are now open for the next round of funding. This fund gives grants for the conservation, repair, and conversion of listed buildings of all grades, historic buildings in conservation areas, registered parks and gardens and scheduled monuments.

The Heritage Revival Fund has also opened for a second round. The fund, worth £45 million in total, helps communities to rescue and repurpose historic buildings and transform them to meet modern needs, focusing on regenerating historic buildings in town centre locations. Delivered in partnership with DCMS and Historic England, the AHF will provide grants to hundreds of communities across England, supporting them to take control of and find sustainable new uses for derelict or neglected historic buildings. Focusing on town centres and areas of high deprivation, the Fund will help transform these local heritage assets into vibrant new spaces – ranging from arts centres to cultural and community hubs and affordable housing.

For further details on how to apply follow these links:

Heritage at Risk Capital Fund – Historic England

Heritage Revival Fund – The Architectural Heritage Fund

Heritage Open Days 2026 Event Directory Now Live

June 1, 2026mikenevell

The Heritage Open Days 2026 event directory is now live, with over 1,600 free events across England from 11 to 20 September already listed. Each year, millions of people take part in the nationwide celebration of local heritage, community, and history. The festival is managed by the National Trust and supported by Postcode Lottery players, and delivered locally by thousands of organisations and volunteers.

This year’s festival theme, ‘Everyday Histories’, and there is still plenty of time to register an event, with the application deadline being 13 August. The 2026 festival will feature a wide range of places that normally charge for events outside of the festival, along with free sites offering something extra special and many venues that are not usually open to the public. Organisers are invited to explore the varied and often overlooked stories of ordinary working people and their daily lives. From factory floors, workhouses and high streets to kitchens, schools, and community centres, this theme shines a light on working-class voices, local superheroes and the part-of-the-furniture places that have quietly shaped England’s heritage.

Industrial Heritage sites have a long tradition of putting on engaging free events for Heritage Open Days. For further details follow the link here: Finding the extraordinary in the ordinary: Heritage Open Days celebrates England’s Everyday Histories

Warwick Bridge Corn Mill Call for Volunteers

May 29, 2026mikenevell

A Cumbrian corn mill is calling for volunteers to help secure its future. Warwick Bridge Corn Mill Ltd, a Community Benefit Society (CBS) which runs the mill as a bakery business, is based within the historic corn mill. It uses UK-grown grain and historic machinery to produce flour, bread, and baked goods for the local community.

Warwick Bridge Corn Mill goes back over 850 years, and the current 18th and 19th century listed mill buildings were restored several years ago. However, its current opperating model is not sustainable without more volunteers, and mill is asking for community support to secure its future through volunteering at the bakery and donations.

The Cultura Trust, formerly North of England Civic Trust, acquired the mill in 2015 and raised nearly £2m to purchase and restore the grade II* listed mill back to full operation, thanks to £1.4m from the The National Lottery Heritage Fund, £187,000 from Historic England, and other grants from Cumbria County Council and a range of charitable trusts and donors. A grant from the Architectural Heritage Fund (AHF) in 1999/2000 had helped establish that a working mill and bakery was a viable proposition, powered by its revived historic water supply. In March 2025, the Cultura Trust handed over the freehold of the historic watermill to Warwick Bridge Corn Mill Limited (WBCML), which has operated the mill as a tenant since 2020.

Further details on how to help Warwick Bridge Corn Mill, and to get involved as a volunteer, can be found here: The Future – A Statement from the Management Committee – Warwick Bridge Corn Mill

*The waterweheel at Warwick Brdge Corn Mill. Image courteys of Warwrick Bridge Corn Mill.*

Historic England: Martyn’s Law & Heritage Webinar, June 10

May 28, 2026May 26, 2026mikenevell

Historic England is holding the first in a new series of ‘Historic Environment Management’ webinars. The new series will begin on 10 June with ‘Counter-terrorism security and the heritage sector: An introduction to Martyn’s Law and the terrorist threat’.

The webinar will introduce the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act, also known as Martyn’s Law, and explore how it applies to heritage sites and the heritage sector. It will also look at the current terrorism threat in the UK, how and where incidents might happen, and the types of threats you may need to protect against at your industrial heritage site.

To sign up for the free webinar follow this link: Historic Environment Management: HEM Webinars | Historic England

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Category: Industrial heritage