Tag: conservation

Conservation Work at Three Windmills Completed

Conservation Work at Three Windmills Completed

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Conservation and restoration work at three windmills has been finished ahead of the winter. Heage Windmill in Derbyshire, Meopham Windmill in Kent, and the White Mill, also in Kent, have been undergoing programnmes of conservation and restoration work for several years.

Heage Windmill was restored in 2002, but the Grade II* listed building required further work due to weather-related erosion to the exterior stonework and increased damp inside the building. Following consultation with Historic England, the Heage Windmill Society secured £30,000 in funding from the Association for Industrial Archaeology (AIA) and the Headley Trust for the works to go ahead. Work on the sails and caps was carried out in 2023, and now repair work on the stone tower has been completed.

Grade II* listed Meopham Windmill, which was built around 1820, had fallen into disrepair. Kent County Council purchased the mill, known for its rare six-sided design, in 1959. A £300,000 restoration programme has seen it reconstructed with new mechanisms, revitalised grounds, and its sweeps restored. The funding for the restoration came from a collaboration between KCC, Meopham Windmill Trust, Suffolk Millwrights, and the local community.

Finally, the Grade II listed White Mill in Sandwich, Kent, had its four sails restored and reinstated in September. The windmill was built in 1760 and served the community as a working mill until the 20th Century, before it became disused in 1957. The White Mill Rural Heritage Centre said the landmark was partly restored in the 1960s, but over the past five years it had undergone more extensive works, and that repairing the historic industrial machinery was a “major testament to the power of volunteering and the important role it plays in the community”.

Further details on these restoration projects can be found on these links:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c7841j4n2q3o.amp

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp8w0nw9kp9o.amp

Heage Windmill during restoration. Image courtesy of Heage Windmill Society.
New IHSO Podcast: Preserving Cheddleton Flint Mill

New IHSO Podcast: Preserving Cheddleton Flint Mill

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The lastest industrial heritage podcast from the IHSO project is now available to listen and download. This episode is an interview with Nick Smith, one of a small group of volunteers at Cheddleton Flint Mill in Staffordshire and a trustee of the trust that looks after the site.

The aim of this podcast was to hear from Nick about the mill’s history, to discuss how the site was saved, and how it has been conserved for future generations. You can learn more about the mill and current events on site here: https://cheddletonflintmill.com/

This podcast is part of the wider Archaeotea podcast series recorded by the IHSO, Dr Michael Nevell. You can follow this link to listen to the new episode.

https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/archaeotea-podcast/episodes/Preserving-Cheddleton-Flint-Mill-e378aga/a-ac4aeos

The two waterwheels at Cheddleton Flint Mill, Staffordshire. Image copyright Dr Michael Nevell.

Industrial Heritage Sites Benefit from New Conservation Grants

Industrial Heritage Sites Benefit from New Conservation Grants

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Industrial Heritage sites in England are amongst 37 heritage sites set to receive £15 million in funding as a part of the Government’s ‘Heritage At Risk’ fund. The funding will go towards repair works and the conservation of heritage buildings at risk, and is a part of the Government’s £270 million ‘Arts Everywhere Fund’. The fund has prioritised projects that will restore heritage sites serving disadvantaged communities and which demonstrate strong local benefits, from job creation to cultural events.

The industrial sites receiving funding are:

  • Woodhorn Colliery Shaft Heads, Ashington, Northumberland – £997,265 
  • National Waterways Museum, Ellesmere Port – £250,000
  • Treadgolds, Portsea, Portsmouth – £485,200
  • The Folk Pin Factory (Grade II), Gloucester Civic Trust – £142,871

Follow this link for further details: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/37-local-heritage-sites-to-benefit-from-15-million-boost-to-breathe-new-life-into-communities-across-england

National Waterways Museum, Ellesmere Port, is owned and run by the Canal & River Trust. Image copyright Dr Michael Nevell.

National Trust Secures £2.75m for Castlefield Viaduct Expansion

National Trust Secures £2.75m for Castlefield Viaduct Expansion

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The National Trust has announced major funding to double the length of its Manchester’s Castlefield Viaduct “sky park” from 150m to 350m. The £2.75m needed will come from National Highways (£2.4m), Manchester City Council (£100k), Greater Manchester Combined Authority (£100k), and Railway Heritage Trust (£150k).

Opened in 2022 the extended ‘sky park’ will add improved accessibility via a new western entrance with lift access, making it a through-route for the first time. The expanded park will also feature WaterAid’s gold medal-winning garden from the 2024 RHS Chelsea Flower Show. It s expected to open in summer 2026. The viaduct is open Wednesday – Sunday 10am – 5pm, with no booking needed.

The Castlefield viaduct was built in the late 1870s by the Cheshire Lines Committee railway to service the former Central Station and was opened in 1880. Further details on the project here: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/cheshire-greater-manchester/castlefield-viaduct

Designs for the planned extension at the Castlefield viaduct. Image courtesy of National Trust.

Mills Archive Trust Launch ‘Caring for an Icon’ Crowd Funder

Mills Archive Trust Launch ‘Caring for an Icon’ Crowd Funder

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The Mills Archive Trust need your help locating the records of past millers and millwrights, preserving them in their archive, and making them accessible to modern craftsmen. With this in mind they have launched a new crowd funding appeal – ‘Caring for an Icon’.

The Trust are looking to preserving these records in their archive and make them accessible to modern craftsmen, thereby helping to train the next generation. In order to do that they need to raise significant sums to safe guard the future of these archives.

Folow this link to donate ot the ‘Carings for an Icon’ appeal: https://new.millsarchive.org/caring-for-an-icon/

The Mills Archive Trust is the custodian of the history of mills and milling. They safeguard the stories, skills, and traditions that mills embody. This expertise allows the Trust to protect, interpret, and open access to this rich history. Mills shaped the foundations of the modern world, and the Trust ensure’s that their legacy continues to inspire.

A millwright at work. Image courtesy of Mills Archive Trust.
Beamish Wins Art Fund Museum of the Year 2025

Beamish Wins Art Fund Museum of the Year 2025

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Beamish, The Living Museum of the North, has won the Art Fund Museum of the Year for 2025 and has been presented with £120,000 – the largest museum prize in the world. The 350-acre site impressed the judges away with its ‘joyous, immersive, and unique’ exhibitions.

Beamish’s commitment to preserving local heritage was recognised by the Art Fund, with Rhiannon Hiles, Chief Executive of Beamish, being presented with the award during a ceremony at the Museum of Liverpool.

Jenny Waldman, Director of Art Fund and chair of the judges for Art Fund Museum of the Year, said: “Beamish is a museum brought to life by people – a joyous, immersive and unique place shaped by the stories and experiences of its community. The judges were blown away by the remarkable attention to detail of its exhibits across a 350-acre site and by the passion of its staff and volunteers.”

Beamish, which opened in 1970, is an open-air museum that brings to life the North East of England’s Georgian, Edwardian, 1940s and 1950s history, through immersive exhibits where visitors engage with costumed staff and volunteers, and experience regional stories of everyday life. In 2024, the museum welcomed over 838,630 visitors and remains the region’s most visited attraction and museum.

For more details follow this link: https://www.beamish.org.uk/news/beamish-wins-120000-art-fund-museum-of-the-year-2025-award/

Edwardian street scene at Beamish. Image courtesy of Beamish, Living Museum of the North.

The Long Shop Museum Recieves £14,000 Aim Grant for Revamped Gallery

The Long Shop Museum Recieves £14,000 Aim Grant for Revamped Gallery

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The Association of Independent Museums (AIM) have announced the winners of the inaugural Museum Fundamentals grants. Funded by the Pilgrim Trust and The Julia Rausing Trust and launched in December 2024, the AIM Museum Fundamentals grant is designed to respond to the varied needs of AIM members.

Amongst the initial round of 12 grants is a succesful application from The Long Shop Muaseum in Suffolk to redesign and redisplay the ‘Made in Leiston’ gallery. The design and content of the new exhibition is based on audience research conducted over the last two seasons. The new displays will focus on unlocking the social history of the town and the people who lived and worked there over a 250-year span, and on technological change. The Long Shop Museum was founded in 1984. It is housed in a cluster of historic buildings in the Suffolk market town of Leiston. The buildings are survivors of the original 19th century engineering works site of Richard Garrett and Sons who specialised in famring machinery. Further details here:

https://www.longshopmuseum.co.uk/

The AIM Museum Fundamentals grant is funded by the Pilgrim Trust and The Julia Rausing Trust, and launched in December 2024. It combines the valued collections care and conservation funding supported by the Pilgrim Trust with new funding from The Julia Rausing Trust. AIM members can apply for up to £20,000 for funding to undertake a collections-based project. If you’re interested in applying to Museum Fundamentals, expressions of interest for the next round are welcome until Friday 8 August. Further details here: https://aim-museums.co.uk/news/first-aim-museum-fundamentals-awards-made/

Long Shop, Leiston, Suffolk. Image copyright The Long Shop Museum.

Ironbridge ‘Getting Us Winding Again’ Appeal Recieves Significant Donation

Ironbridge ‘Getting Us Winding Again’ Appeal Recieves Significant Donation

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The Winding Engine at Blists Hill Victorian Town is one of the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust’s earliest and most significant exhibits. One of the very few preserved steam winding engines – and of even fewer able to wind up and down a historic mine shaft – it has been out of action since 2018. To repair and restore this machinery will cost £100,000. A fudn was setup in 2024 to raise this amount, and it has recently recieved a genrous donation from the 29th May 1961 Charitable Trust.

Winding head gear at Blists Hill, Ironbridge. Image copyright Dr Michael Nevell.

When it is working, the Winding Engine exhibit can bring the sounds, smells and sights of a working engine to life for our visitors. It helps us tell the story of the men, women and children who worked in Shropshire mines and the daily dangers they faced. It also demonstrates a vital feature of mining and the development of mining and engineering during the Industrial Revolution. 

The phased plan for work will see the pit head, boiler house, and engine house refurbished, the mine shaft inspected and cage refit. The work will primarily be carried out by IGMT’s Steam Team, expert volunteers, supported by our Steam Engineer and outside contractors.

More money still needs to be raised, so if you would like to contribute to getting the engine winding again follow this link:

https://www.ironbridge.org.uk/about-us/support-us/get-us-winding-again/

The winding engine at Blists Hill, Ironbridge, spring 2025. Image coyrigth Dr Michael Nevell.
Crowdfunder Launched for New Footbridge Next to Bennerley Viaduct

Crowdfunder Launched for New Footbridge Next to Bennerley Viaduct

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As part of increasing access to the Bennerley Viaduct and its surrounding environment, the Friends group want to build a new footbridge over the River Erewash. They also want to secure the riverbank to prevent its erosion. The Friends already have support from a variety of funders for this project, but need to raise the rest of the amount needed to build the new footbridge bridge.

All the monies raised will go towards to providing the materials for the bridge and river erosion works, which will involve supportive sustainable material used to protect the bank from erosion. They are planning to use local volunteers and students from the University of Kent to help build the footbridge. This new bridge will provide an important access route to the structure and its surrounding environment, so people can enjoy this hidden gem from top to bottom.

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 sandwiched between the Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire near the towns of Kimberley and Ilkeston. 

Follow this link to contribute to the new footbridge: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/new-footbridge-next-to-bennerley-viaduct

Saving Basuto: Canal & River Trust Launch Crowdfunding Appeal to Save Historic Clyde Puffer

Saving Basuto: Canal & River Trust Launch Crowdfunding Appeal to Save Historic Clyde Puffer

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The Canal & River Trust (CRT) have launched a Crowdfunding Appeal for an urgent conservation project to save the Clyde Puffer Basuto, one of the UK’s most unique and historically important vessels.

Built in 1902, Basuto played a vital role in industrial Britain transporting iron across the country, before then coaling naval vessels during World War I, and supporting wartime efforts in World War II. With a rich and varied history, she has been a working vessel, a coal barge, and a steam-powered cargo ship. She remains one of the oldest vessels of her kind still afloat today, and is recognised as an important vessel on the National Historic Ships’ Historic Fleet Register, alongside esteemed vessels like the Cutty Sark and HMS Victory.

However, time and the elements have taken a devastating toll on Basuto. Currently sitting in the lower basin at the National Waterways Museum in Ellesmere Port, this iconic vessel is sinking and must be continuously pumped to stay afloat. Due to her construction Basuto cannot be repaired while in the water, and without immediate action she risks sinking completely, which would further damage her structure and threaten the water quality of the surrounding area. Having secured generous initial funding from the National Heritage Memorial Fund to undertake this conservation effort, CRT need your help to secure the remaining funding and to raise awareness of this historic conservation effort.

To make a donation to help cover the final costs of the conservation works follow this link: Saving Basuto – a Charities crowdfunding project in Ellesmere Port by Canal & River Trust

The Basuto at the National Waterways Museum, Ellesmere Port. Image courtesy of CRT.