Industrial heritage – Industrial Heritage Networks

AIM Grant Helps the Long Shop Museum, Leiston, Open New Social History Gallery

October 23, 2026October 22, 2026mikenevell

An Association of Independent Museums (AIM) grant has helped the Long Shop Museum in Leiston redesign a gallery space to display objects in a major new permanent social history exhibition. This comes after a major repair and refurbishment project of the upper storey of The Long Shop. This building is listed as II*, internationally important both architecturally, and historically as the first building in the world constructed with the purpose of housing a manufacturing production line.

The Long Shop Museum was founded in 1984 and is an independent accredited museum and registered charity housed in a cluster of historic buildings in the Suffolk market town of Leiston. The buildings are survivors of the original 19th century works site of Richard Garrett and Sons. Garrett was world-famous manufacturers of steam engines and other agricultural machinery, and the museum houses collections relating to farming machinery, steam traction, tools, and commercial and domestic products that were made by the works during its 200 year history.

The museum used the grant to transform a large, under-utilised, gallery space into a new feature of the museum with a focus on people rather than machinery, highlighting the importance of social history in studying technological progress and the development of Richard Garrett and Sons. Utilising the services of an accredited conservator, and training courses offered by, for example, the Collections Trust, 15 people benefitted from the training as the gallery was developed. As the project progressed the museum’s volunteer recruitment programme also saw increased numbers.

For full details of the project follow this link: Made in Leiston – AIM – Association of Independent Museums

For details on the Long Shop Museum follow this link: The Long Shop Museum – 200 Years of Industrial and Social History

11th East-West Workshop on Industrial Archaeology: Industrial Landscapes

October 19, 2026mikenevell

The next East-West workshop on Industrial Archaeology, run jointly by the UK Association for Industrial Archaeology (AIA) and the Institute for Cultural Heritage and History of Science & Technology (USTB), China University, will be on the 21st November 2026, 10:00 to 12:00 (London Time).

The East-West Workshops on Industrial Archaeology were established in 2021 and aim to exchange ideas and knowledge among Western and Eastern colleagues to build a more international and diverse industrial archaeology. The latest free seminar will be looking at the theme of industrial landscapes. The four speakers for the day are:

Speakers & Talks

Stephen Walker: “Spinning Yarns – A Tale of Landscape Archaeology in the Leen Valley of Nottinghamshire, UK.”
Hyun-Jin Chun: “Line Forest Park Design in Seoul, South Korea.”
Fang Wei: “Re-imaging Machine and Garden: Public Preception of Post-industrial Landscapes from a Human Factors Perspective (China).”
David L T Pereira: “Archaeometric Characterisation of Bricks from the Paulista Co Workshops (Sao Paulo State, Brazil): Raw Materials, Technology and the Production of Sao Paulo’s Railway Landscape.”

Recordings of earlier workshops (covering topics including brewing and wine production; railways; metal production; textile archaeology and heritage; and industrial ruins), are available on the AIA YouTube channel and full written reports of the workshops are available in IA News, published by the AIA.

Register for FREE to get the Zoom link to the event on the 21st November 2026, 10:00 – 12:00 London time, here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/11th-east-west-workshop-on-industrial-archaeology-industrial-landscapes-tickets-2003465209373?aff=oddtdtcreator

Woodhorn Mining Museum Celebrates 20th Anniversary Whilst Looking to a Renewable Future

October 10, 2026October 9, 2026mikenevell

Woodhorn Museum, a mining museum in North East England, is marking 20 years this October since it re-opened, after a £16m redevelopment which created exhibition spaces, community, and learning facilities and a cafe. The renovation also restored the colliery’s two heapsteads or pit heads, which are again undergoing restoration work. Since 2025 the former colliery has been run by North East Museums, which runs 12 museums across the region.

The 2006 scheme included the opening of the Cutter Building, which became a permanent home for the Ashington Group (also known as the Pitmen Painters) collection of artworks, alongside the collections of Northumberland Archives. The Woodhorn Museum, which is located in what was once the largest pit village in the world, chronicles the life of the Ashington coalmining community. Jo Raw, Northumberland venues manager for North East Museums, said: “Completing the restoration of the heapsteads makes this anniversary particularly special, allowing us to protect an important part of our industrial heritage while reopening more of the historic site for visitors to enjoy.”

The site is also looking to develop a low carbon future. It is part of the Borderlands Energy Investment Programme (BEIP) which aims to provide a strategic opportunity to accelerate the region’s transition to net zero. Across a range of sites it will seek to reduce carbon emissions, strengthen energy resilience, and create new green jobs and skills in South Scotland and the North of England.

The ‘Powering the Past and the Future’ project at Woodhorn Museum is led by Northumberland County Council, and will install ground source heat pumps (GSHP), solar panels, LED lighting upgrades, solar carports and battery storage at the former colliery. Using the region’s industrial heritage, it will showcase the economic and environmental benefits of low-carbon technologies, reduce the museum’s carbon footprint and energy costs, enhance the visitor experience, and support local STEM education.

Further details of this new project can be found here: Borderlands Energy Investment Programme

*The heapsteads at Woodhorn Museum. Image courtesy of North East Museums.*

Dates for In-person IHN Autumn 2026 Meetings

September 29, 2026October 11, 2026mikenevell

The in-person Industrial Heritage Network meetings, run by the IHSO project, return this autumn, and the first round of dates are now available. These meetings are a great way of meeting fellow industrial heritage people working at industrial heritage and archaeology sites and exchanging experiences.

The themes for this year’s meetings are liaising with schools and adapting to hotter summers. Our first meeting of the season was last month (August), when the North West IHN met at Helmshore Textile Museum, where there was a great turn out and lively discussion. The confirmed dates for the in-person autumn 2026 meetings so far are:

Yorkshire IHN, 30 Sept: National Musuem of Mining, Wakefield
North East IHN, 14 Oct: Locomotion, Shildon
East Midlands IHN, 16 Nov: Taylors Bell Foundry, Loughborough
West Midlands IHN, 17 Nov: Hereford Waterworks Museum
South East IHN, 19 Nov: The Brickworks Museum
London IHN, 20 Nov: Postal Museum

If you would like your site to take part in these friendly and free meetings please email the IHSO, Dr Michael Nevell, for more details: michael.nevell@nationaltrust.org.uk

*Delegates attending the North West IHN at Helmshore Textile Museum in August 2026. Image copyright Dr Michael Nevell.*

Record Number of Industrial Heritage Sites Open for Heritage Open Days

September 11, 2026mikenevell

A record number of industrial heritage sites are opening for free as part of the 2026 Heritage Open Days running between the 11 and 20 September. Amongst the more than 250 industrial archaeology and heritage sites opening to the public are three newly renovated museums run by the National Trust in the Ironbridge Gorge (Broseley Clay Pipe Works, Jackfield China Works, The Old Furnace). The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings is also opening for free its Kibworth Harcourt Windmill, whilst English Heritage is making available Sibsey Trader Mill, and the Iron Bridge at Ironbridge.

This year’s Heritage Open Days theme highlights the extraordinary in our ordinary working lives, with more industrial sites open than ever, along with hundreds of exhibitions, walks, and talks on industrial subjects. Those sites open include more than 70 water and wind mills, more than 50 metal working and textile mill sites, and over 30 ceramic, chemical and mines sites.

There are also nearly 100 transport heritage sites open for free to visit (from canals, and railways to tramways), and nearly forty pumping stations and maritime sites.

To find an event, and an industrial site, near you, follow this link: HeritageOpenDays2026

*The newly refurbished Old Furnace and its museum building at Coalbrookdale, Shropshire, which has been re-opened by the Natioanl Trust for Heritage Open Days. Image copyright Dr Michael Nevell.*

National Trust to Re-open Two More Ironbridge Gorge Museums for September 2026 Heritage Open Days

September 1, 2026mikenevell

The National Trust will be re-opening two more Ironbridge Gorge museums in September, as part of the Heritage Open Days events. The Broseley Pipe Works and the Coalport China Museum will be free to explore everyday working lives in partnership with Findmypast as part of the Industrious Women theme. The female work force played an integral part in the ceramic industries, and this event will allow you to not only explore the lives of ordinary working women but also access the Findmypast website to begin to explore your own family history.

Broseley Pipe Works will be open on 11-13 September and 18-20 September for pre-booked guided tours. Guided tours will run on the hour from 11 – 3pm. NT Ironbridge Gorge will also have a copy of a wages ledger from the early 20th century on display along with other archive material. Pre-booking is essential as car parking spaces are limited.

The Coalport China Museum will open 11-13 September and 18-20 of September for pre-booked visits from 10am to 4pm and there will be curator talks and demonstrations, as well as the opportunity to see archive material. Pre-booking is essential as car parking spaces are limited.

To book follow these links:

Industrious Women (Broseley Pipe Works)

Industrious Women (Coalport)

*Coalport China Works by the canal. Image copyright Dr Michael Nevell.*

*Clay pipe making demonstration at the Broseley Pipe Works. Image courtesy of National Trust Ironbridge Gorge.*

The Resilience and Sustainability of Publically Accessible Industrial Heritage Sites in England: New Report

August 21, 2026mikenevell

A new report on Industrial Heritage Sites in England in 2026, commissioned by Historic England and the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust, has been published. This report, by Heritage Innovation, examines the resilience and sustainability of designated industrial heritage sites across England.

Focussing on designated industrial heritage sites that are accessible and interpreted to the public in England, it is a major update on two previous English Heritage (now Historic England) commissioned reports, carried out in 1998 (by PLB Consulting Ltd) and 2008 (by the late Sir Neil Cossons). Drawing on desk-based research, questionnaires and interviews, its emphasis is on industrial sites open as heritage attractions, including both museums and monuments. There are sections on:

ownership
governance
function
finance
management
access
conservation
interpretation
and marketing

Having considered the findings, it concludes with a series of ten recommendations. These include strengthening advocacy, increased support for the IHSO project, revitalising volunteering, developing technical skills, continued sector monitoring, exploring new approaches to governance and funding, and researching heritage fuels. It also calls for a strategic review to set priorities for the industrial heritage sector over the next 25 years.

The report and its findings will help take forward the work of the Historic England-funded Industrial Heritage Support Officer (IHSO) project, hosted by the Ironbridge Gorge | National Trust (further details on the project here – https://industrialheritagesupport.com/ (this current website) and https://industrialheritagenetworks.com/). The IHSO project is also supported by the The Association for Industrial Archaeology.

Dr Mike Nevell, IHSO, thanked Heritage Innovations for their hard work in pulling together data from a very varied sector, noting that ‘this is the first study of the industrial hertiage sector in a generation. Its findings and recommendations will be of considerable interest to all those involved in the care and public presentation of England’s industrial heritage, especially local authorities and other public bodies, charitable trusts, and volunteer groups’.

To download the report follow this link: https://historicengland.org.uk/research/current/discover-and-understand/industry-and-infrastructure/industrial-heritage-in-england/.

Further details about Heritage Innovation’s other work can be found here: Heritage Innovation | Cultural Heritage Consultancy UK

*The Longwarehouse and Museum of Iron, part of the National Trust Ironbridge Gorge sites taken over in March 2026 from the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust. Image copyright Dr Michael Nevell*

Inland Waterways Association Helps Canal & River Trust to Update its Restoration Delivery Plan

August 17, 2026mikenevell

The Inland Waterways Association (IWA) has worked with Canal & River Trust (CRT) to help improve its revised Restoration Delivery Plan (RDP), published 28th July. This document will provide the framework for future restoration of canals not currently open to boats and managed by the CRT.

The Restoration Delivery Plan is intended to set out how the CRT will work with restoration promoters and other partners to deliver the restoration of waterways across England and Wales. As a critical friend to CRT, IWA has engaged constructively with the Trust’s senior management to ensure that restoration receives the support and strategic priority it deserves. By reinforcing the importance of a friendly approach to waterway restoration and encouraging CRT to consider restoration as a core charitable objective rather than a secondary priority, the IWA has helped move the document towards a more positive, practical, and delivery-focused one.

The IWA noted that the discussions between the IWA and CRT have also led to improvements in CRT’s internal restoration processes and a better mutual understanding of how restoration activity should be managed across the Trust’s network. This, however, needs to be matched by restoration groups becoming increasingly professional when undertaking construction work, both onsite and with design and Health & Safety paperwork.

For more details follow this link: IWA secures improvements to Canal & River Trust’s Restoration Delivery Plan – The Inland Waterways Association

Walsall Leather Museum: Plans to Relocate Museum Reversed

August 12, 2026mikenevell

Walsall Council has abandoned plans to relocate the Walsall Leather Museum, closed in April. The new Reform council administration agreed on 24 July to reverse the previous admistration’s decision to relocate the Walsall Leather Museum to the centre of town. Instead, the new council voted to reopen the museum in its current home, a Grade II listed 19^th-century leather factory.

The council said that: “The existing museum building is itself a key component of the heritage offer, providing authenticity, historical context and a visitor experience that would be difficult to replicate through relocation. Retaining the museum in its current location presents a strong opportunity to enhance Walsall’s cultural offer while maintaining a direct connection to its industrial heritage.”

One of the campaigners against the move, Lauren Broxton, is quoted by the Museum Association as saying: “After a gruelling 18 months campaigning, we are thrilled by these developments. It has been emotionally and mentally taxing on many of us and we appreciate every share, petition sign, letter, and collective support. On behalf of the campaign group, I want to thank you all for the amazing support you have given us during this time – it has been crucial to reaching this milestone. We still face challenges and obstacles ahead (we are not naive to the almost inevitable likelihood of the Conservative opposition calling this in for scrutiny) and are continuing to work hard to ensure the best outcome is secured.”

More details here: Plans to relocate Walsall Leather Museum scrapped by new Reform council – Museums Association

*The Walsall Leather Museum’s 19th century factory buildign was given Grade II Listed status earlier this year.* *Image courtesy of the museum.*

Two Industrial Buildings Have Their Listed Building Status Upgraded

August 6, 2026mikenevell

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport, on the advice of Historic England, has approved an incease in protection for two industrial buildings: Low Mil, Bleasdale, North Yorkshire, and Redhills Durham Miners’ Hall, County Durham.

*Interior of Low Mill, showing some of the machinery. Image courtesy of Historic England.*

Low Mill, in Bleasdale, North Yorkshire, was listed at Grade II in 1990. Further research has now shown the mill is of more than special interest and deserves to be upgraded to II*, as it is a rare and remarkably complete example of grain watermill development in the 18th and 19th centuries.

The iconic miners’ hall, home to the ‘Pitman’s Parliament’, has been upgraded to a Grade II* listed building. It is believed to be the most outstanding example of trades union-inspired architecture in the country. Constructed between 1913 and 1915 with an Edwardian Baroque exterior, it was purpose-built as a place where the Durham Miners Association (DMA) could meet coal owners on their own terms.

Further details here:

Rare Watermill Gets Listing Upgrade | Historic Englands

Miners hall in County Durham listing upgraded to Grade II* | Historic England

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