Industrial Archaeology: Future Directions

322 Pages·2005·8.2 MB·English

by  Eleanor Conlin Casella (auth.)

Contributions to Global Historical Archaeology
Industrial
Archaeology
Future Directions
Edited by
Eleanor Conlin Casella and James Symonds
Industrial Archaeology
Future Directions
Industrial Archaeology
Future Directions
Edited by
Eleanor Conlin Casella
UniversityofManchester,Manchester,UnitedKingdom
and
James Symonds
Director,ARCUS,GraduateSchoolofArchaeology,
Sheffield,UnitedKingdom
with the support of E N G L I S H H E R I TA G E
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Contents
NewDirectionsinIndustrialArchaeology ........................ ix
SirNeilCossons,OBE
Introduction ......................................................... xi
EleanorConlinCasellaandJamesSymonds
PartI. Re-thinkingIndustrialArchaeology
CHAPTER1. “SocialWorkers”:NewDirectionsin
IndustrialArchaeology ......................................... 3
EleanorConlinCasella
CHAPTER2. ExperiencingIndustry:BeyondMachinesand
theHistoryofTechnology ...................................... 33
JamesSymonds
CHAPTER3. IndustrialArchaeology:ConstructingaFramework
ofInference ..................................................... 59
MarilynPalmer
CHAPTER4. AfterIndustrialArchaeology? ........................ 77
DavidCranstone
PartII. TheConservationofIndustrialMonuments
andLandscapes
CHAPTER5. FromValvestoValues:IndustrialArchaeology
andHeritagePractice ......................................... 95
KateClark
v
vi Contents
CHAPTER6. PublishingandPriorityinIndustrial
Archaeology ..................................................... 121
DavidGwyn
CHAPTER7. GasandGrain:TheConservationofNetworked
IndustrialLandscapes ......................................... 135
DavidWorth
CHAPTER8. ExploringMrs.Gaskell’sLegacy:Competing
ConstructionsoftheIndustrialHistoricEnvironment
inEngland’sNorthwest ........................................ 155
MalcolmA.Cooper
PartIII. ArchaeologiesoftheFactoryandMine
CHAPTER9. TheSocialArchaeologyofIndustrialisation:
TheExampleofManchesterDuringthe17th and
18th Centuries .................................................. 177
MichaelNevell
CHAPTER10. TechnologicalInnovationintheEarly
19th CenturyIrishCottonIndustry:OvertonCottonMills,
CountyCork—ThomasCheekHewesandtheOriginsofthe
SuspensionWaterwheel ........................................ 205
ColinRynne
CHAPTER11. BuildingaWorking-ClassArchaeology:
TheColoradoCoalFieldWarProject .......................... 217
RandallH.McGuireandPaulReckner
CHAPTER12. CulturalIdentityandtheConsumptionofIndustry 243
StephenA.Mrozowski
CHAPTER13. TheIndustrialArchaeologyofEntertainment ...... 261
MartinHall
Contents vii
CHAPTER14. ColonisationintheIndustrialAge:TheLandscape
oftheAustralianGoldRush ................................... 279
SusanLawrence
Commentary
ConcludingComments:RevolutionizingIndustrialArchaeology? 301
MaryC.Beaudry
Index ................................................................ 315
New Directions in
Industrial Archaeology
Sir Neil Cossons, OBE
Over the past 50 or so years the study of the industrial heritage has
become one of the most vibrant and progressive areas of research and
practice. This growth and consolidation can be seen across the devel-
oping discipline, not least the range of academic courses, specialist
publicationsandresearchprojects,allseekingtopromoteabetterun-
derstanding of the historic industrial environment and its surviving
remains. It reflects a growing realisation not only of the immense im-
portanceofBritain’sroleasthefirstindustrialnationbutoftheextent
and significance of the evidence all around us. And that recognition is
now embracing the need for more than historical and archaeological
knowledge. Today we have to engage knowledgeably and confidently
with the change process in order to open eyes to opportunities for re-
cycling buildings and whole landscapes back into new and productive
useswhilesecuringtheirintegrityandtheirmeaninginthelandscape.
Understandingthecomplexitiesofthishistoricindustrialenviron-
ment is crucial if we are to develop a structure for its protection and
management.Thisisparticularlysonow,fortheindustriallandscapeis
under pressure as never before, from renewal and development, some
ill-considered some thoughtful. Proper understanding can reduce the
formerandensurethesuccessofthelatter.
The nature and consequences of this pressure can be seen every-
whereandnotonlyinurbanareas.Itcanbeseenwhereverregeneration
programmeshaveledtomassiveandsustainedchange,andasmuchin
thecountrysideasintownsandcities—inrurallandscapeswhichthem-
selves sustained prolific industrial activity in the past. Whether the
adaptive reuse of a mill or factory, the wholesale removal of Victorian
terracedhousing,radicalchangestothetransportinfrastructureorthe
restructuringoftheruraleconomy,thespeedandscaleofthistransfor-
mationposeshugechallengesforus.
Sir Neil Cossons, OBE • Chairman of English Heritage, English Heritage, London
W1S2ET,UnitedKingdom
ix
x SirNeilCossons,OBE
Here and there, change will result in removal for preservation in
amuseumsuchastheManchesterMuseumofScienceandIndustryor
sometimes in-situ as part of a project like Ironbridge. Or, the value of
thelandscapemaybesuchthatWorldHeritagestatusisanappropri-
atemeansofpreservation,promptingtheneedforthemostperceptive
and measured of responses based on deep and thorough understand-
ing. But for by far the majority of industrial buildings and structures,
in city, town or countryside, the future will depend on new, appropri-
ateandimaginativeusesbeingfound.Thechallengehereistoachieve
a use which secures the intrinsic character and quality of a building
orstructure.Forthis,knowledgeandunderstandingareessential.But
thisisonlythefirststep.Itmustleadinturntocarefullycrafteddesign
briefsandmanagementframeworkswhichareflexibleenoughtoallow
forbothpreservationandformanagedchange.
I have spent much of my life involved in the conservation of the
industrial heritage in some form or another. Throughout that time, I
have been particularly struck by the importance of encouraging both
researchinindustrialarchaeology,aswellashistoryanddevelopment
ofappropriatemanagementregimes.Keytobothiswidespreadpublic
acceptance,andthekeytothatisinformedandopendebate.
I am especially pleased therefore that English Heritage has been
abletosupportthepublicationofthisvolumewhicharoseoutofathe-
matic session at the Theoretical Archaeology Group in 2002. That the
conferencewasheldinManchesterisparticularlyfittinginthatthecity
isbeingnominatedbytheBritishGovernmentasaWorldHeritageSite
onthebasisofitspowerfulandpersuasiveclaimtobetheworld’sfirst
industrial city. It is here also that some of the challenges of balancing
regenerationandconservationareattheirmostcritical.Inspiredsolu-
tionsthatreconcilethevoicesofthepastwiththeneedsofthepresent
andouraspirationsforthefutureneedwisdomandcreativity,goodwill
and ingenuity. I am certain that the papers in this book will advance
the discussions over the nature of the industrial past and its role in
allourfutures.AstheChairmanofEnglishHeritage,myinterestand
optimism continues to grow. I very much hope that these papers will
encourage the continuing debate which characterises such a vibrant
andchallengingsubject.
SirNeilCossons,OBE
ChairmanofEnglishHeritage
Introduction
Eleanor Conlin Casella
and James Symonds
Theessaysinthisbookareadaptedfrompaperspresentedatthe24th
Annual Conference of the Theoretical Archaeology Group, held at the
University of Manchester, in December 2002. The conference session
“An Industrial Revolution? Future Directions for Industrial Archae-
ology,” was jointly devised by the editors, and sponsored by English
Heritage, with the intention of gathering together leading industrial
and historical archaeologists from around the world. Speakers were
askedtoconsideraspectsofcontemporarytheoryandpractice,aswell
as possible future directions for the study of industrialisation and in-
dustrialsocieties.
It perhaps fitting that this meeting was convened in Manchester,
whichhasarichindustrialheritage,andhasrecentlybeenproclaimed
asthe“archetype”cityoftheindustrialrevolution(McNeilandGeorge,
2002). However, just as Manchester is being transformed by regen-
eration, shaking off many of the negative connotations associated
withfactory-basedindustrialproduction,andremakingitselfasa21st
centurycity,thensotoo,isthearchaeologicalstudyofindustrialisation
beingtransformed.
In the most recent overview of industrial archaeology in the UK,
SirNeilCossonscautionedthatindustrialarchaeologyriskedbecoming
a“onegenerationsubject”,thatstoodontheedgeofoblivion,alongside
themid-20th centurypursuitoffolklifestudies(Cossons2000:13).Itis
to be hoped that the papers in this volume demonstrate that this will
notbethecase.
Althoughtheconferencesessionuponwhichthisbookisbasedhad
atheoreticalremit,itisinterestingtonotethattherangeofspeakers
wentfarbeyondtheusuallistofcollegeprofessorsthatonemightexpect
Eleanor Conlin Casella • School of Arts, Histories and Cultures University of
Manchester,Manchester,M139PL,UnitedKingdom
James Symonds • Executive Director, ARCUS, Graduate School of Archaeology,
Sheffield,S14DT,UnitedKingdom
xi