Fears for region’s ‘at-risk’ industrial heritage

The aim is then to start a debate about which aspects of the region’s history need saving, and how that can be done.

English Heritage will reveal the results of its “Industrial Heritage at Risk” research, including feedback from members of the public, in October this year at the launch of the annual English Heritage at Risk Register.

A spokesman for the organisation said: “The region was a cradle of the Industrial Revolution.

“This astonishing legacy includes metal trades buildings like Joel’s Forge, Well Meadow Street, which dates to the 1840s, and 18th century Shepherd Wheel, a former water-powered grinding workshop, both in Sheffield, along with historic iron works at Wortley Low Forge.”

Neil Redfern, planning team leader with English Heritage, stressed the importance of South Yorkshire’s industrial legacy.

He said: “The period from 1750 to the First World War shaped the region’s place in the world and laid the foundations of the modern age in which new forms of industry have emerged.

“But much of this industrial heritage is now at risk and the current economic climate isn’t helping.

“Owners are finding it hard to look after the needs of their buildings as well as their businesses.

“Developers are cautious about taking on vacant industrial buildings and public bodies and regeneration agencies are less able to support schemes for re-use.

“There are no easy answers but we’re determined to see what can be done to help.

“Our industrial past is too important to ignore.”

English Heritage says it wants to get owners, developers, local people, voluntary bodies, academics, professionals and politicians involved in debating the future of South Yorkshire’s industrial past “before it is too late”.

In October this year the organisation will reveal how much of the country’s listed or scheduled industrial heritage is at risk, what the threats are and will propose possible ways forward.

An English Heritage spokesman added: “The public are being urged to visit www.english-heritage.org.uk/industrial-heritage-at-risk for more information.

“They can also post photographs and comment on favourite industrial buildings on a Flickr group run in association with the Council for British Archaeology and the Association for Industrial Archaeology.”

A restoration project is already under way at Shepherd Wheel, on the River Porter.

Known as Sheffield’s only remaining link to its 16th-century cutlery trade, the Shepherd Wheel site contains two grinding workshops, weirs and a dam to divert water from the brook.

The wheel fell into decline in the 1930s and although a restoration project in the 1960s saved it from demolition it has not been operational for more than a decade.

The aim of the scheme is to restore the mill pond, buildings and machinery and build an outdoor classroom which could then be used by school groups.