Tag: networking

ABTEM – Support for Transport & Engineering Museums

ABTEM – Support for Transport & Engineering Museums

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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

Festival of Archaeology 2026 – Free Support Sessions for Organisers

Festival of Archaeology 2026 – Free Support Sessions for Organisers

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The theme for the 2026 CBA Festival of Archaeology is “Archaeology and Nature”, with the Festival taking place across the UK from Saturday 18th July to Sunday 2nd August. Event listings and resource submissions for the 2026 Festival remain open, and the Council for British Archaeology (CBA) is running a series of free support sessions for event organisers.

To run an event as part of the Festival follow this link: Organiser Area Council for British Archaeology

To book a free support session on how to organise an event follow this link: Festival of Archaeology 2026 Support Session 5 Council for British Archaeology

The Festival of Archaeology takes place over 16 days in July each year but beyond that, there are plenty of other ways to discover archaeology and heritage across the UK throughout the year. Follow this link to discover more about the Festival and about CBA’s role in promoting archaeology: Council for British Archaeology

The Newcomen Society Launches Small Grants Scheme

The Newcomen Society Launches Small Grants Scheme

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The Newcomen Society has introduced a Small Grants programme, aimed at organisations who are working in the field of the history of engineering and technology, and are charities, voluntary organisations, or registered archives holding relevant collections. The scheme will initially run for a year, February 2026 to February 2027, before being reviewed.

The new scheme is intended to fund projects which:

  1. Support the collection, cataloguing and preservation of objects and archives about the history of technology.
  2. Promote the display and interpretation of the history of technology.
  3. Encourage and support the publication and wider dissemination of material about the history of technology in a range of formats such as articles, videos, podcasts, conferences etc.

The minimum grant will be £500 and the maximum £10,000, with applications possible throughout the 12 months of the initial scheme. To download an application follow the link below:

Expressions of interest should be made by email or post to the Hon Secretary, The Newcomen Society, P O Box 79326, London SW1P 9NP Email: cosec@newcomen.com

All successful applicants will be required to submit an end of project report and are encouraged to submit article(s) on their projects for possible publication in Newcomen Links or the International Journal for the History of Engineering & Technology.

Updating the South West Archaeological Research Framework (SWARF) – Call to Take Part

Updating the South West Archaeological Research Framework (SWARF) – Call to Take Part

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The Bureau for the Contemporary and Historic Consultancy (BUTCH) has been commissioned to support the update of the South West Archaeological Research Framework (SWARF). This is to make sure that it reflects all the research done in the last 18 years and that the priorities for future research are clear. This research framework includes a substantial post-medieval, industrial, and modern section, which will be of interest to the dozens of industrial heritage and archaeology sites, groups, and museums in the region.

The BUTCH team are looking for expressions of interest from experts in their field to fulfil two roles in this process. The roles are (1) Resource Assessment Chapter Team Lead; (2) Expert Panel Member. You may also wish to be involved in their commitment to engage the wider research community. 

The online version of the current South West Archaeological Research Framework (SWARF), including the industrial section, can be found here: Post-Medieval, Industrial and Modern Periods – South West England Research Framework

If you are interested in taking part, please register your interest by completing the form, via the link below, by 7 June 2026 for roles 1 and 2. The form will remain open for those who wish to be updated on the project or who might be interested in being involved in future discussions. The link for the form is here: SWARF Involvementhttps://lnkd.in/e-gu3exM

The front cover of the 2008 SWARF monograph.

SPAB One Day Conference: ‘Caring for Their Future: Recording, Repairing, & Researching Mills’, 13 June 2026

SPAB One Day Conference: ‘Caring for Their Future: Recording, Repairing, & Researching Mills’, 13 June 2026

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The SPAB Mills Section is running a one day conference on wind and water mills in Britain on 13 June 2026 in Reading, and booking is now open. There will be chaired panel discussions after both the morning and afternoon talks. Refreshments will be available during break times and delegates will have the opportunity to see some of Rex Wailes’ drawings on display at the Mills Archive Trust.

Mildred Cookson and Nathanael Hodge from the Mills Archive Trust, will share their knowledge on caring for documents and images, and project archivist Hei-Yan Tsui will share some finds from the Rex Wailes collection. Dr Toby Huitson and Duncan McCallum will explore the Mills at Risk theme and the intricacies of listing historic buildings. Justin Coombs will demonstrate his innovative Smartmolen Project, and the confence will also hear from water-mill expert Stephen Bartlett about flood warning and prevention for watermills.

To book the conference follow the this link: Caring for their future: Recording, Repairing, & Researching Mills | The SPAB

AIA’s 10th East-West Workshop on Industrial Archaeology

AIA’s 10th East-West Workshop on Industrial Archaeology

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The next East-West Workshop on Industrial Archaeology, co-run by the Association for Industrial Archaeology (AIA), will be on the 9th May. This is 10th online, free, workshop in the series and takes place exactly five years after the AIA co-hosted the first edition in May 2021.

The East-West Workshops on Industrial Archaeology were not created to endure; at least, not in a purely virtual format. When the first workshop was held in May 2021, it was mainly a way to prevent the COVID pandemic from disrupting our academic activities and international exchanges. However, the experience exceeded expectations. Five years on, the AIA are launching the 10th edition of a series of workshops that has become increasingly popular in the West, the East, and beyond.

To mark this special occasion, this workshop focuses on the archaeology, heritage, and history of alcoholic beverages. The speakers will examine the architecture of malt production in Britain and continental Europe (a key component of beer, whiskey, and other spirits), the history of winemaking and wine consumption in Spain, and the landscape of baijiu production in China. While the workshop acknowledges the serious consequences of alcohol abuse, it also recognises it as a significant element in many cultures worldwide, their social practices, and their heritage.

The East-West workshop series aims to exchange ideas and knowledge between Western and Eastern colleagues to develop a more international and diverse industrial archaeology. The event is jointly organised by the Institute for Cultural Heritage and History of Science & Technology (USTB, China) and the UK Association for Industrial Archaeology.

SPEAKERS & TALKS

  • Amber PATRICK (Association for Industrial Archaeology, Britain): “Malthouse Developments – The Late 18th Century to the Mid-20th Century”
  • Pablo ALONSO GONZÁLEZ (Spanish National Research Council, Spain): “Craft Vs. Industrial? A Critical History of Spanish Wine”
  • Yuchen WANG (University of Science and Technology Beijing, China): “Symbiotic Cityscape: Luzhou Baijiu Cultural Heritage as an Urban Cultural Landscape”

DATE & TIME

9 May 2026, Saturday. 10.00-12.00 London time

PLACE

Zoom (online meeting). More info and free registration:

Register on Eventbrite
Free Heritage Carbon Webinars & Training for Industrial Heritage Organisations

Free Heritage Carbon Webinars & Training for Industrial Heritage Organisations

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Historic England continues to offer Heritage Carbon Literacy training, and free places on two new workshops:  ‘How to Measure a Carbon Footprint’ and ‘How to Write a Carbon Reduction Plan’. Both are designed especially for heritage organisations, such as industrial sites, who are just starting out on their carbon reduction journey.  Find out more and sign up here – https://historicengland.org.uk/education/training-skills/training/training-courses/carbon-reduction-training-for-the-heritage-sector/

Historic England has also published new guidance, factsheets, and resources to help cultural and heritage organisations develop Decarbonisation Plans for their heritage buildings. Developed by architects Haworth Tompkins through a co-funded Arts Council England and Historic England project, the free resources can be accessed here – https://historicengland.org.uk/advice/climate-change/your-organisation-to-net-zero/developing-a-decarbonisation-plan/. 

To accompany the resources HE are running a series of free webinars in March and April to go through the different steps in the decarbonisation process. More information and booking links here – https://historicengland.org.uk/education/training-skills/training/training-courses/carbon-reduction-training-for-the-heritage-sector/ 

Finally, Historic England is delivering a series of Heritage Carbon Reduction webinars. These have been developed especially for the heritage sector as part Historic England’s programme of Carbon Reduction training to help organisations reduce their carbon emissions. Topics include ‘How to get Trustee buy-in for your carbon reduction plan’, ‘Tenant/Landlord collaboration in lowering emissions’, and ‘Soil emissions in archaeology’. Training on further topics will be announced later in the year. Everyone is welcome to attend these free training sessions. If you can’t make it recordings will also be available on the Historic England website. Booking links here – https://historicengland.org.uk/education/training-skills/training/training-courses/carbon-reduction-training-for-the-heritage-sector/

Urban air pollution. Image copyright Historic England Archve.
Stormy seas crashing against a historic quayside. Image copyright Historic England Archive.
AIA Events in 2026: Norwich Annual Conference

AIA Events in 2026: Norwich Annual Conference

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The Association for Industrial Archaeology’s (AIA) 2026 conference will be based at Norwich, England, from the 4th to 9th September. The East Anglian counties of Norfolk, Suffolk, and Cambridgeshire have a rich history of Industrial Heritage including wind and water mills, maritime and port industries, agriculture, and the associated manufacture of agricultural machinery and food processing.

The 2026 programme will follow the usual format, starting on the Friday evening with an informal dinner followed by a talk introducing the Industrial Heritage of East Anglia. On Saturday there will be a full day of talks on local topics, presentations to and by award winners, and the Conference Dinner. On Sunday morning there will be AIA’s AGM followed by the Rolt Lecture. From Sunday afternoon until Wednesday lunchtime there will be a number of site visits across the three counties. Lunches, informal evening dinners and talks are included. Full details and booking will be available on the conference pages of the AIA website in due course. Recordings of the 2025 Bradford Conference are now available on the AIA YouTube channel.  

For more information, including booking details, please visit the events pages of the AIA website. 

View of Carrow Works and the River Wensum, Norwich c 1870. The home of Colman’s Mustard (unknown artist). From the Norfolk Museums Collections

Industrial Heritage Networks Online – Spring Dates for 2026

Industrial Heritage Networks Online – Spring Dates for 2026

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The next round of online Industrial Heritage Network (IHN) meetings will provide a lunchtime opportunity to connect in Spring 2026. The IHNs are a vital part of the Industrial Heritage Support Project (IHSO), providing an opportunity for individuals, both professional and volunteer, working at Industrial Heritage sites in England to get together to exchange experiences and catch up with the latest trends in the sector.

This Spring’s online Industrial Heritage Network meetings will be taking place during later February and March at a midweek lunchtime, 1pm to 2pm. Those attending are very welcome to bring a drink and a sandwich whilst we spend an hour talking about updates from individual sites, as well as current trends. The date for the 10 IHN online meetings are as follows:

  • 24 February – West Midlands IHN
  • 25 February – East Midlands IHN
  • 3 March – East of England IHN
  • 4 March – London IHN
  • 11 March – Yorkshire IHN
  • 12 March – South East IHN
  • 17 March – North West IHN
  • 18 March – Cornwall & Devon IHN
  • 26 March – South West IHN
  • 27 March – North East IHN

Network members will be emailed joining details nearer the time. For queries about joining the Industrial Heritage Networks, please email the IHSO, Dr Michael Nevell, at: mike.nevell@mikenevell.org.uk

The IHSO project, which runs the IHNs, is funded by grants from Historic England and the Association for Industrial Archaeology, and is based at the Ironbridge Gorge Museums in Shopshire, England.

South East Regional Industrial Archaeology Conference 2026 Open for Booking

South East Regional Industrial Archaeology Conference 2026 Open for Booking

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The 2026 South East Regional Industrial Archaeology Conference (SERIAC) will take place on 25 April at Stanley Arts, South Norwood, London, from 10.30 to 16.45.

The day will consist of papers from members of the constituent societies in the region, including topcis such as Brunel’s Viaducts and Reading’s Other Industries. Display Space will be available for those Societies who wish. An optional box lunch will also be available. Further details here:

SERIAC_2026_NLDownload

Book your tickets online via this link: https://tinyurl.com/SERIAC-2026