It is the question English Heritage will be asking in a major project it has just launched to find out how much of our physical history is in jeopardy of neglect, decay or even demolition.
The organisation, which hopes to raise the debate about exactly what needs saving and how, will reveal the results of its Industrial Heritage at Risk research later this year.
“The South West region contains a staggering wealth and diversity of historic industrial sites,” said English Heritage’s regional director, Andrew Vines.
“These range from the metal mines of Cornwall and Devon and the mills of the Westcountry textile industry to the magnificent structures and buildings on the region’s canals, railways and docks.
“Everywhere one looks in the South West there are canals, railways, warehouses, brick works, potteries, breweries, gas works, wind and watermills, ports, docks and harbours – and other innumerable remains of the Industrial Revolution, that great era spanning from 1750 to the First World War, when Britain led the world.
“But much of this industrial heritage is now at risk and the current economic climate isn’t helping,” added Mr Vines. “Owners are finding it hard to look after the needs of 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 for re-use.
“There are no easy answers. But we’re determined to see what can be done to help. Our industrial past is too important to ignore.”
English Heritage aims to get owners, developers, local people, voluntary bodies, academics, professionals and politicians involved in debating the future of industrial heritage before it is too late. Its Heritage at Risk register provides an insight into the condition of listed buildings, scheduled monuments, registered parks, gardens and battlefields, protected wrecks, conservation areas and listed places of worship. It also gives communities information about the condition of historic buildings and archaeological sites in their neighbourhood and encourages individuals and organisations to become involved in restoring what is precious to them, ensuring that public funding goes to the most needy and urgent cases.
But this year there will be a special focus on the often-overlooked industrial archaeology which effectively tells the story of how this nation managed to survive and flourish down the centuries. In October English Heritage will reveal the survey’s findings, describe what the threats are, and propose possible ways forward. To find out more and have your say, visit www.english-heritage.org.uk.