Tag: museums

Catalyst Science Discovery Centre and Museum Looks to Raise £100K to Help Secure its Future

Catalyst Science Discovery Centre and Museum Looks to Raise £100K to Help Secure its Future

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The Catalyst Science Discovery Centre and Museum, Widnes, is looking to raise £100,000 to help restore their reserves and strengthen Catalyst’s resilience as it works to open, in early 2027, its new, NHLF supported, gallery.

As the only chemical museum in the country, the Catalyst Science Discovery Centre and Museum protects an extraordinary part of Britain’s, and Widnes’ history – from the scientists and innovators who changed the chemical industry to the thousands of people whose working lives were shaped by it. Its also a space where children discover science, families experiment together, schools learn outside the classroom and local people explore stories connected to their own families and communities.

There are many ways to support Catalyst, from corporate membership and sponsorship to partnerships, donations and in-kind support. And of course you can visit the museum, which is based in Widnes, Cheshire. To learn more follow this link: Help Us Keep the Chemistry Going

To donate to the museum follow this link: Catalyst Donate

The Catalyst Discovery Centre & Museum, Widnes. Image Copyright Dr Michael Nevell.
Trustee Vacancies at Industrial Sites

Trustee Vacancies at Industrial Sites

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Several Industrial Heritage sites, or the umbrella organisations that run them, have opportunities for new Trustees, this autumn in the Midlands and South West of England.

The SS Great Britain Trust is looking for two new Trustees to join their committed group of people who already give their time, expertise, and insight to help govern the SS Great Britain Trust and safeguard the future of one of the world’s most significant historic ships. Trustees play a vital role in ensuring the SS Great Britain Trust has a vibrant and sustainable future. The deadline for applications is Friday 6th November. Further details here: SS Great Britain Trust – AIM – Association of Independent Museums

Birmingham Museums Trust, one of the largest independent museum trusts in Britain and which includes amongst its nine museum sites the listed 1771 Sarehole Mill Museum, the listed Museum of the Jewelery Quarter workshops, and the Trust’s industrial museum ThinkTank, is seeking new Trustees. The musuem is embarking on a transformative period following the launch of their 2025–2030 Strategic Plan, ‘Laying the Foundations’. The deadline for applications is Monday 16th November. Further details here: Birmingham Museums Trust – AIM – Association of Independent Museums

One of Smith & Pepper’s jewellery manufacturing workshops in the Jewellery Quarter Museum. Image courtesy of Birmingham Musuems Trust.
AIM Grant Helps the Long Shop Museum, Leiston, Open New Social History Gallery

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

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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

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

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

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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.
Record Number of Industrial Heritage Sites Open for Heritage Open Days

Record Number of Industrial Heritage Sites Open for Heritage Open Days

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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.
Museums Association: Income Generation for Museums Online Conference 16 September 2026

Museums Association: Income Generation for Museums Online Conference 16 September 2026

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The Museums Association is running a one-day conference looking at how commercial teams can work more effectively with senior leaders and colleagues in other departments to integrate commercial thinking into core decision-making at museum sites.

Topics covered at this one-day conference, through case studies and panel discussions, include:

  • practical, creative and achievable ways that your museum can generate sustainable income
  • ways to create income while staying true to your core mission
  • how to overcome the challenges of recent years
  • future trends across retail, e-commerce, events, and corporate hire.

The cost to non-members is £69. Details on how to book here: Money Talks: Income Generation for Museums – Museums Association

Wiltshire Industrial Archaeology Conference 2026: From Branch Lines to Tram Lines

Wiltshire Industrial Archaeology Conference 2026: From Branch Lines to Tram Lines

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The 2026 Wiltshire Industrial Archaeology Conference will take place on 24th October at Devizes Town Hall, which is located on the first floor of the building. It is accessible via a wide staircase, or a platform lift. There is an accessible toilet on the first floor of the building. The programme is as follows:

9.30 am – Registration

10 am – Welcome by Mike Stone Chairman of the Industrial Archaeology Committee at Wiltshire Museum.

10.05 am – The Calne branch and its industries, by Mike Stone.  Mike was curator of Chippenham Museum and regularly lectures on a wide range of subjects.

10.50 am – Coffee

11.10 am –  History of the Midland South Western Junction Railway, by Nick Baxter MA in Public History.  Nick is a retired secondary school history teacher.  He gives history talks and guided walks as part of his ‘Wiltshire History Man’ business.

12 noon –  The Wantage tramway, by Dr Richard Marks, historian.  ‘Industry Past’.

12.50 pm – LUNCH BREAK.
Lunch is not provided, please bring your own, or there are numerous bars and cafes in the Market Place, just a short walk from the Town Hall.

2.15 pm –  A compendium of delights relating to the Malmesbury Branch, by Mike Fenton, railway historian.

3 pm – Tea

3.25 pm – The railway, locomotives and history 1916-1919 of the H.M.E.F. Stratton, Swindon: Ammonium Nitrate Explosive Works, research by Colin Judge of the Industrial Railway Society.  Presented by Malcolm Holland, local historian.

4.30 pm – Conference ends

To book follow this link: Booking for events – Wiltshire Museum

CBA Members Weekend 2026: Explore the Industrial East Midlands

CBA Members Weekend 2026: Explore the Industrial East Midlands

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The Council for British Archaeology (CBA) and CBA East Midlands are jointly hosting a weekend of archaeology and heritage activity across Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire in the English East Midlands on 26th and 27th September.

On Saturday they will be visiting Cromford Mills, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to the first water-powered cotton spinning mill, and Cromford Village in Derbyshire. On Sunday, in Nottingham, members will explore the UK’s largest network of caves, their changing uses, and their industrial features. There will also be a visit to Brewhouse Yard to discover the stories of Nottingham’s social history and lace making. The weekend will finish at Nottingham Castle, a Stuart Restoration-era ducal mansion, and Mortimer’s Hole, a human-made cave beneath the castle.

The cost is £90pp for the weekend (with people sorting out their own accommodation and transport, though some car-sharing might be possible for anyone arriving by public transport), with tickets limited to 30.

Further details on how to book here: CBA Members Weekend 2026 Council for British Archaeology

DCMS Launches Call for Evidence for National Lottery Future Funding Model

DCMS Launches Call for Evidence for National Lottery Future Funding Model

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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

UNESCO World Heritage UK Launch New Online Industrial Heritage Trail

UNESCO World Heritage UK Launch New Online Industrial Heritage Trail

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UNESCO World Heritage UK has launched a new online Industrial Heritage Trail linking industrial world heritage sites, landscapes, global geoparks, cities of literature and film, and several of the UK’s Tentative List sites. The trail covers locations in England, Scotland, and Wales in a digital journey that runs from Cornwall to the Firth of Forth.

These 20 sites tell the story of industry from the top to the bottom of Britain, ranging from mills, mines, and quarries to canals, railways, and industrial cities. The intention is to ‘connect places and landscape shaped by innovation, labour and geology, inviting visitors to explore how industry transformed everyday life and left a lasting cutlural legacy’.

To access the trail follow this link: Industrial Heritage Trail