The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) is currently developing guidance to help volunteer-involving organisations, groups, and bodies based in England better understand how volunteering can be done safely and effectively during the continuing COVID-19 pandemic. As part of this guidance development, DCMS are inviting employees and volunteers from volunteer-involving organisations, groups, and…
Historic England Industrial Heritage Webinars Now Free to View
Historic England’s first two industrial heritage webinars are now available to view online for free. These were delivered in July 2020 and each last no more than one hour. They include presentations by Norman Redhead (Greater Manchester Archaeological Advisory Service) describing the work of a local authority archaeological officer, Dr Joanne O’Hara (Somerset West and…
Heritage Emergency Fund supports hundreds of organisations across the UK
The NHLF has announced that the Heritage Emergency Fund has helped more than 950 heritage organisations across the UK to cope with the challenges of the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis. In total, 961 grants were awarded worth £49.8million to help the heritage community support staff, cover essential maintenance and utility costs, and prepare to safely reopen….
Colchester’s Balkerne Water Tower gets Historic England Grant
Historic England has awarded a £20,000 project development grant to support investigative works at the the Grade II* Balkerne Tower in Colchester, also known as the ‘Jumbo Tower’. It was built in 1882-3 by the local council to bring clean water to the Essex town, and was last used in 1984. It is currently on…
Cornish Engine Database Now Available Online – and the Public Can Add to It
In June 2020 the Association for Industrial Archaeology made available a searchable database of Cornish Engines in the UK, Europe and around the globe. This is based upon the work of Ken Brown (in the UK) and Jan Verbruggen (in the Netherlands) and their research in the late 20th and early 21st century into Cornish…
RECOVERY GRANTS SECOND ROUND
The Art Fund and the Museum Development Network (MDN) in England have joined forces to offer a series of Recovery Grants – deadline 15th September. In Round One they supported a wide range of activity, allowing museums to create new online content, adapt their learning offers, strengthen relationship building with BAME communities, start up new…
COUNCIL FOR BRITISH ARCHAEOLOGY LATEST ADVICE FOR LOCAL ARCHAEOLOGY SOCIETIES & COMMUNITY GROUPS
The Council for British Archaeology (CBA) has issued advice for local archaeology and community groups and societies keen to resume fieldwork and/or face-to-face activities. At the moment they cannot provide archaeology-specific guidance so are advising that societies and groups follow the UK Government’s 5 step guide to working safely. This provides a good starting point…
Oldest Surviving Gas Works Protected
The DCMS and Historic England announced on the 15 July 2020 that the remains of what is believed to be the earliest surviving gas works in the world have been protected through scheduling. The site lies at the Dolphinholme Worsted Mill in the upper Wyre Valley in Lancashire, and was installed in 1811, providing gas…
AIM ‘Hallmarks at Home’
The AIM ‘Hallmarks of Prospering Museums’ initiative comprises a framework to help museums and heritage organisations throughout the UK. The Hallmarks identify characteristics that are typical of successful heritage organisations and enable them to prosper and thrive. ‘Hallmarks at Home’ takes the existing principles and applies them to the recovery and reopening of the museum…
Grimsby Ice Factory Receives COVID-19 Grant
Historic England has awarded North East Lincolnshire Council (NELC) £40,000 for repairs to the Grimsby Ice Factory from their Heritage at Risk grant programme. The council is working with the Great Grimsby Ice Factory Trust (GGIFT), regeneration partner Engie and building owners ABP. Extra funding is also said to have come from ABP and surplus…
