THE ROLE OF VOLUNTEERS FROM CIVIL SOCIETY IN THE

CONSERVATION OF THE INDUSTRIAL HERITAGE OF

EUROPE

Pam Moore, B.A. (Hons),

HERITAGE CARE THROUGH ACTIVE CITIZENSHIP CONFERENCE,

Mechelen, 23rd March 2009

Introduction

An example of Europe’s outstanding industrial heritage – Montevecchio Mine, Sardinia – volunteers needed! There are high hopes for the site, but these may well not be fulfilled

VOLUNTEERS ACROSS EUROPE

Research has shown that practical involvement in conserving the heritage of industry by volunteers is rare

Where it does take place, it is often to preserve “community assets” rather than as activity by enthusiasts for industrial heritage for its own sake

In this paper I will examine the variations and the reasons for them…

In Central and Eastern Europe, practical involvement by volunteers is highly unusual. Sites such as Majeroo mills, near Opacic, Croatia, rely on State intervention – a consequence of their “political heritage”

The mill is cherished by the local residents who are delighted to see it once more able to produce flour, however

Perhaps more surprising is that in most countries of western Europe, like Spain, it is also rare for volunteers to tend sites. Sad, as wonderful examples like this Catalan forge would benefit

As you can see, the forge interior is derelict, and lack of resources inevitably limits which sites can be conserved

Granbergsdal furnace in Sweden is an example of a conservation project by a local community – residents take care of the site

Gransbergsdal’s residents also utilise the site for community gatherings like this summer weekend festival for all ages

Överklinten mill in northern Sweden – near Robertsfors - is a good example of the adaptive re-use of a site of industrial heritage, pioneered by the community caring about a local asset

The mill interior now serves as a restaurant and boutique hotel facility – helping to regenerate the community by attracting visitors and providing a local meeting venue for events

It appears that Flanders and the UK differ from the rest of Europe. This horse driven oil mill at Lille, near Antwerp, was restored by volunteers from the the Levende Molens (Living Mills) organisation which has worked for more than 25 years

Another example of the enterprise of Levende Molens is this fine post mill, at Tessenderlo in the east of Flanders

A good example of a UK project is Twyford Water Pumping Station in southern England dating from c1900 and cared for entirely by volunteers and financed mainly by income from Open Days

Volunteers restored this triple expansion steam engine of 1914 at Twyford to working order as part of the project for the site. They have also renovated diesel and hydraulic engines and a small industrial railway which served the waterworks

The lime kilns at Twyford are a major feature. The project provides a clue as to why the UK differs from, say Sweden – significant finance for the preservation of a site like this is unlikely to come from the state. Twyford has had grants, bit nowhere near enough to pay people to do the work involved in restoring everything

The Iron Bridge in Shropshire is a key artefact of the UK’s industrial heritage, but the Ironbridge Gorge Project which encompasses the rich collection of sites related to it was financed primarily by commercial sources – not the state. Even here, volunteers play a key role, but more in the “living working museum” tradition, as in Sweden

Despite coming with a “dowry” from its previous owners, the brickworks at Bursledon, near Southampton is heavily dependent on volunteers even for clearing the vegetation around the site

At Bursledon, volunteers also maintain the machinery, prepare the refreshments and sell souvenirs. From the start of the project to restore the complex, they have played a key role

A final example from the UK is Eling Tide Mill, Southampton, where volunteers have carried out every role from repairing the historic machinery, to clearing weeds from the water, and milling flour

Conclusion : more research is needed but the variations in the part played by volunteers conserving the industrial heritage is due to a combination of factors – finance, cultural tradition and political history among them