Industrial heritage – Industrial Heritage Networks

Industrial Heritage Network Online Meeting Dates 2024

June 25, 2024June 25, 2024mikenevell

The latest round of online meetings for the Industrial Heritage Networks in England are now taking place. Members will be recieving a ‘save the date’ email this week and then links to the meetings in the following weeks. These meetings are run by the Ironbridge Gorge Musuem Trust as part of the IHSO project. The networks provide a chance for those involved in running and maintaining industrial heritage sites, archaeological monuments, or local societies to get together and discuss current issues and experiences.

One of the current themes being explored by this year’s network meetings is how industrial museums, groups, and those supporting industrial archaeology monuments work with their local authority and how that has changed over the years. Membership of the regional networks is voluntary and free. If you would like to take part please email the IHSO at: mike.nevell@ironbridge.org.uk

Dates for the 2024 Online Industrial Heritage Network meetings:

Wedensday 19 June – London – completed

Wednesday 26 June – North West

Tuesday 2July – South East

Wednesday 3 July – South West

Monday 8 July – East Midlands

Wednesday 10 July – West Midlands

Monday 15July – East of England

Tuesday 16 July – Yorkshire

Monday 22 July – Cornwall & Devon

Wednesday 24 July – North East

‘Our Leather industries’ New Exhibiton by the Wandle Industrial Museum

May 29, 2024mikenevell

The latest exhibition by the Wandle Industrial Musuem opens on 9th June 2024. ‘Our Leather Industries’ looks at the history of leather making and some of the products produced in the Wandle Valley in the 19th and 20th centuries.

The exhibition can be found at the Vestry Hall Annexe, London Road, Mitcham, Surrey. Open on Wednesdays, 1-4pm and Sundays 2-5pm, the exhibtion is free to enter.

New Industrial Archaeological & Historical Research Included in Lancashire & Cheshire Antiquarian Conference, May 2024

April 9, 2024mikenevell

The Lancashire and Cheshire Antiquarian Society are holding their annual conference on 11th May 2024. The theme is new research, with a focus on local history, family history, and industrial archaeology. It will be held at the friend’s Meeting House, Mount Street, Manchester, M2 5NS from 10am to 3pm.

The talks will include presentations Helen Corlett talking about The Cooper at Old Bridge End: Finding a Place in Early 19c Manchester (a micro study of the experience of an artisan-tradesman family migrating to Manchester from the rural north); Neil Coldrick on Medieval Ironworking in Holcombe Valley; and Kelly Griffiths discussing Scuttled: Excavations on the Historic Canal Basin in Rochdale (looking at excavating late 19th century canal boats).

The conference is free to members of the Lancashire and Cheshire Antiquarian Society and the Manchester Local Family History Society, but donations are gratefully accepted. The fee for non members is £12.00 payable to Lancashire and Cheshire Antiquarian Society. Please email secretary@landcas.org.uk to book your place.

*A canal boat being excavated at Rochdale*.

*Medieval bloomery during excavation at Holcombe in 2018.*

L T C Rolt: Life, Work, Legacy. Ironbridge Conference Booking Now Open

March 14, 2024March 12, 2024mikenevell

Booking is now open for a major conference at Ironbridge looking at the life, work, and legacy of L T C Rolt on the 10th May 2024. L T C Rolt, also known as Tom, was a renowned practical engineer and prolific author who wrote books and articles on industrial history, canals, railways, and cars as well as fiction. Rolt was an early supporter of the work of the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust and is regarded as one of the founders of the 20th century waterways and railway preservation movements. He was also involved in helping to establish the Association for Industrial Archaeology.

To mark the 50th anniversary of his death, Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust has partnered with academics from Keele University to host a conference on Friday 10th May which will celebrate his life and the continuing legacy of his work. There will also be conference-related events on the 9th and 11th May.

The programme can be seen by following this link:

🗓️ See the programme here: https://bit.ly/42XRI0y

To book tickets follow this link:

🎟️ Get your tickets here: https://bit.ly/49xHcjm

*The team responsible* *for the recent re-archiving of the Rolt collection at IGMT*

Historic England Adds Interactive Map to its Historic Manufactured Gas Webpages

February 23, 2024mikenevell

Historic England has added an interactive map to its Historic Gas Industry webpages. The new feature allows researchers to search for manufactured gas sites in England from the 19th and 20th centuries and to view summary details about each site. This new feature expands the resources already available for those wishing to research the local manufacture of gas, which already includes a detailed overview report on the history of the manufactured gas industry in England, a heritage assets guide, and advice on recording such sites.

The new interactive map shows the location of hundreds of sites including listed gasworks buildings and gasholders, non-designated surviving gasworks buildings and gasholders, possible surviving structures related to the industry, sites with only below ground evidence, and sites only known from map evidence. The map also has links to the relevant Aerofilms Collection of aerial photographs where these show these gas industry sites, a database which is held by Historic England.

To view the interactive map follow this link: https://historicengland.org.uk/research/current/discover-and-understand/industry-and-infrastructure/manufactured-gas-industry/

The base of the the 1864-5 gasholder at Quarry Bank Mill, Cheshire. Gas manufacture on the site ceased in 1904, but the gasholder was retained for several years thereafter to cope with periods of peak demand. Image copyright: Dr Michael Nevell.

Historic England Consultation on New Advice on Climate Change & Historic Building Adaptation Now Open

November 17, 2023mikenevell

Historic England has published (November 2023) a draft Advice Note that aims to provide clear and consistent advice on balancing climate action with building adaptation. Primarily aimed at local planning authorities, heritage consultants, and those involved in the planning process, the Historic England Advice Note (HEAN) is now open for consultation to ensure everyone can comment on the final advice.

Historic England has produced this Advice Note to provide clarity and to support consistent decision-making for proposals to reduce carbon emissions and improve the energy efficiency of historic buildings, whilst conserving their significance and ensuring they remain viable places to live in the future. It reflects current national planning policy, and whilst the Advice Note will largely be for a specialist audience, it will also be useful to building owners/occupiers once the final version is published, and so relevant to all organisations that run and/or own industrial heritage sites.

Amongst other points, the draft advice note states that solar panels and heat pumps can be fitted to listed buildings so long is it is done discreetly. Listed building consent will always be required for the installation of photovoltaic and solar thermal panels, but they will generally be acceptable on non-principal roofs. Likewise, the installation of heat pumps will possible, and will also require listed building consent, provided that they are sympathetically sited. Loft insulation, as long as not sprayed, and insulation under or between floors will also be usually acceptable.

Ian Morrison, Director of Policy and Evidence at Historic England, said: “The new Advice Note we are consulting on demonstrates how historic buildings can become more energy efficient and help to reduce carbon emissions in England. It’s not a question of ‘if’ change can happen, it’s a question of ‘how’, and this new advice will make it clearer for us all to ensure historic buildings are adapted appropriately to respond to the climate crisis. We welcome feedback on how the Advice Note will enable decision making to be more consistent.”

To read the draft Advice note and contribute to consultation follow this link: https://historicengland.org.uk/whats-new/news/climate-change-historic-building-adaptation-consultation/

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Lincoln’s Industrial History: Industrial Archaeology Conference 18 November 2023

November 3, 2023mikenevell

The Society for Lincolnshire History and Archaeology (SLHA) is running an industrial archaeology conference on ‘Lincoln’s Engineering History’ on the 18 November at Lincoln College, Lincoln. A series of talks will celebrate Lincoln’s remarkable engineering history – and its 100-year-old Engineering Society.

The programme includes talks on: ‘Commemorating Lincoln Engineering Society’s Centenary: It’s Origins and Early Years’; ‘Lincoln Engineering – Why and How? Factors leading to the start of engineering in the City of Lincoln’; and ‘ The Engineering Heritage of Lincoln’. Tickets cost £30 for the public and £25 for SLHA members, and the day includes lunch and refreshments.

SLHA promotes an interest in all aspects of Lincolnshire’s heritage. Details about the society can be found here: https://www.slha.org.uk/index.php

Bookings need to be made before the 10th November on Eventbrite. Follow this link for the booking form: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/lincolns-engineering-history-tickets-670627844937

AIA Revamp Their Events Programme for 2024

October 9, 2023mikenevell

Following the Autumn 2023 Council meeting of the Association for Industrial Archaeology (AIA) at Ironbridge, the AIA are pleased to announce their events programme for 2024. There are some changes to their Conference provision compared with previous years, which the AIA hope will make it much more affordable and accessible to their members.

The revamped programme includes moving the conference and AGM to early October, which will be as Cardiff. This will avoid clashes with regional industrial archaeology events and Heritage Open Days in September, as well as the European Archaeology Association (EAA) and The International Committee for the Conservation of the Industrial Heritage (TICCIH) conferences. Importantly, the shorter, hybrid, AGM and conference will be more affordable for members.

There are also lots of exciting new online and in-person events on offer throughout the year including the AIA’s inaugural CPD workshop on ironwork conservation in January, a CBA Festival of Archaeology event with IGMT at Ironbridge in July, and a brand new offer of summer tours in partnership with Heritage of Industry which will take you behind the scenes at some of the best industrial sites in Newcastle and the North East.

The AIA is the leading UK and European specialist society on industrial archaeology and heritage. For more information about the Association, and details on how to join and secure your member’s discounts for 2024’s events, visit https://industrial-archaeology.org

Industrial Heritage Snap Survey by Historic England Now Open

September 13, 2023mikenevell

Historic England’s Industrial Heritage Network is focusing attention on the knowledge and skills needed to care for our industrial heritage. They want to inform discussions on what training is needed and how Historic England can help.

If you work with industrial heritage or feel you need to upskill in this area, please share your thoughts in this short survey.

https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/IHTraining/

*Iron casting at Blists Hill, Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust*

AIM Connected Communities Grants Now Open for 2023

May 23, 2023mikenevell

The Association for Independent Museum’s new grant scheme is now open. This offers grants of £15,000 – £100,000 to Accredited and non-Accredited museums delivering projects to improve community connections through volunteering opportunities and/or reducing loneliness and increasing social bonds. Museums will participate in a capacity-building programme that will support and upskill staff and volunteers, provide mentoring and help build partnerships with local organisations.

Specific locations in each region that are eligible to apply, many of which have industrial heritage sites, are as follows:

Barnsley
Barrow-in-Furness
Blackpool
Bolsover
Burnle
Cannock Chase
County Durham
Doncaster
Fenland
Great Yarmouth
Halton
Hartlepool
Kings Lynn and West Norfolk
Kingston upon Hull
Knowsley
Middlesbrough
Rochdale
Sandwell
South Tyneside
Stoke-on-Trent
Sunderland
Tameside
Tendring
Thanet
Torridge
Wakefield
Wolverhampton

The deadline for expressions of interest is 8th June 2023 at 12 noon. Further details can be found here: https://aim-museums.co.uk/for-aim-members/grants/aim-connected-communities/?mc_cid=5107d12f51&mc_eid=c1aec993c2