G 4 · Industrial, maritime and transport sites
Of all the categories considered in this report, industrial sites are currently the ones that best fit the learning agenda. The preservation of industrial sites in the United Kingdom is a relatively recent phenomenon, inspired by comparable ventures in the United States. It first gathered strength immediately after the Second World War with the move to restore canals to provide leisure activities. This early concentration on canals explains why British Waterways has become one of the most active and inventive providers of open-air learning activities in Britain.
The preservation of large-scale industrial sites dates back to the 1970s when such pioneering ventures as the restoration of Ironbridge at Coalbrookdale in Shropshire, were initiated. Coalbrookdale was a historic industrial site – often regarded as the seat of the Industrial Revolution – where the remains of industrial activity were surrounded by large-scale dereliction. Both its restoration and its admirable education programme set a pattern for such enterprises, of which other important early examples included Wigan Pier in Lancashire and the North of England Open Air Museum at Beamish. Many of the early sites to be turned into museums or heritage attractions were housed in buildings of historic importance. From the 1980s onwards places which had only recently become redundant found themselves reinvented as industrial archaeology. Prominent in this field are redundant coal mines such as Big Pit, now the National Museum of Welsh Mining, and the much smaller Rhondda Heritage Park, at Trehafod, where the marketing department is responsible for a lively programme concentrating not only on the mine but on the history of the valley and the coal towns, employing several former miners.
This process of transforming industrial sites into heritages sites was made possible by the availability of large sums of money from the European Regeneration Fund and other bodies, which paid for the new visitor attractions to be set up. The importance of such sites, and the contribution that they make to major cities such as Liverpool and Manchester, have now been recognised on a formal basis by English Heritage.
In addition, the rationalisation by the Armed Forces of their stock of historic buildings, including barracks, dockyards and airfields meant that such old-established installations as Chatham Historic Dockyard and Woolwich Arsenal were also converted into historic sites open to the public, as well as for residential and commercial use. The Ministry of Defence is working with English Heritage to protect such sites. In terms of this report, industrial and military sites provide some of the most impressive examples of achievement. In addition, the information they offer is generally of a practical and hands-on type. They tend to be particularly attractive for family visits. These places tell the story of industry and work, and do not necessarily carry the ambiguous connotations associated with places of worship or country houses. The situation is helped to a limited extent by the fact that the Industrial Revolution features in the National Curriculum. Most importantly, these museums and heritage attractions were set up at a time when education opportunities, both for schools and for general visitors, were actively expanding. Since the beginning all these attractions have regarded learning, both formal and informal, as an essential ingredient of their work. The tension between learning activities and other functions, found in many historic buildings, does not apply here.
The importance attached to education does not alleviate the usual financial difficulties. Many of these places are vested in independent charitable trusts, and depend on visitor income and fund-raising. Some of the sites described here have been, or are, financially vulnerable and have even been close to closure. The financial challenges outlined in this report apply equally here: much interesting work, for example at Ironbridge, depends on short-term funding for posts and projects.
British Waterways Museum, Gloucester
The National Waterways Museum (part of the Waterways Trust), situated in the major conservation area of Gloucester Docks, is housed in a warehouse built in 1873. The Museum, an independent trust opened in 1988, is an outstanding resource containing beautifully displayed exhibits with many teaching facilities using models, maps, paintings and other items of interest connected with water. They cater for every type of group from the small workshops to family school holiday activities and adult learning weeks, from courses with Cheltenham and Gloucester College to work placement students. With the Slimbridge Trust, they also run a programme with Youth Hostels, special needs groups and cubs and scouts.
|
section start
On this page
|
