This paper will compare attitudes towards industrial heritage in various parts of Europe, and the degree of volunteer involvement in different countries. For example, in a few states, the conservation of the industrial heritage relies heavily on groups of enthusiasts, who give many hours of their time. This is particularly true in the United Kingdom, where projects to restore and maintain such sites as wind and watermills, and the heritage of the water supply industry, would be unlikely to succeed without volunteers who devote both time and expertise to this task. Similar groups can also be found in other parts of Europe, for instance in Flanders and Denmark. Another way in which Civil Society helps to protect the industrial heritage is through the support of individual communities. In Sweden, for example, many sites in rural areas are cared for by the local people. This can take the form of renovation and preservation work, with subsequent presentation to visitors, or if a site cannot remain in its original use, in assisting in its adaption to enable the building at least to survive. Attitudes to industrial heritage vary across Europe, with, until recently, less interest in its preservation in central and eastern states. This view is now shifting, and projects are commencing to save what is left of this important legacy of the past, although these tend to be less volunteer based, with, instead the lead coming from government agencies and museums – the reasons for this will be examined. This presentation will be celebrating the work of the dedicated volunteers engaged in “giving the industrial past a future”.

1. 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

2. 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

4. 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”

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

6. 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

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

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

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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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