Tall order saving crumbling icons of a glorious industrial past

To the untrained eye they’re not much to look at.

Chimneys, which a hundred years ago choked the air with fumes are now crumbling, remnants of the once lucrative lead mining industry in the Yorkshire Dales, observed only by the occasional sheep. In the south of the county, the workshops which a few decades ago were the heart of an industrial hub have been overshadowed and moved aside by new developments.

However, these buildings, many of which are at risk of disappearing altogether, have found a new champion in English Heritage. The organisation may be best known as the guardian of many of the country’s grand historic properties, but it is also increasingly turning its sights to preserving the region’s industrial heritage.

The organisation admits that compared to garnering support to preserve examples of medieval masonry or ruined abbey cloisters, persuading people of the need to save a soot-clad factory is not so easy.

Which is part of the reason why they are not only embarking on a project to find out exactly how much of Yorkshire and the Humber’s industrial heritage is at risk of neglect, decay or even demolition, but encouraging the public to embrace their own favourite example of industrial architecture.

“This period of British history shaped our place in the world, it shaped the lives of our forebears and laid the foundations of the modern age,” says Dr Simon Thurlay, chief executive of English Heritage.

“Today, the places where we live and work still look largely the way they do because of the industry that went on in them.

“Textile mills, quarries, coal mines, metal industries, glassworks, potteries, docks and harbours are visible reminders of the Industrial Revolution, that great era spanning from 1750 to the First World War when Britain led the world.

“However, much of this heritage is now at risk and the current economic climate is not helping. Owners are finding it hard to look after 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 which might just bring them back into use.

“There are no easy answers, but we are determined to see what can be done to help. Our industrial past is too important to ignore.”

Work is already underway to secure sites like Keld Heads lead smelt mill near Richmond and English Heritage will report on its full findings in October.

In in the meantime the public is being encouraged to contribute to the detective work by posting photographs and information on their own favourite buildings on a new website.

“Finding an alternative use for redundant industrial buildings is one of the best ways of securing their long-term future,” adds Dr Thurley. “They are often built of robust, good quality materials and can form the focus for the regeneration of an area as well as reinforcing people’s sense of place.

“However, everyone from politicians to academics and developers need to join the debate on the future of our industrial heritage before it is too late.”

For more information on how post photographs and comments on favourite industrial buildings visit www.english-heritage.org.uk/industrial-heritage-at-risk