Recording & Conservation

The remains of our industrial past

Throughout the country we can see the remains of our industrial past: bridges, canals, railways and stores still in use all bear testimony to the work of past generations. However, there are other signs too – a derelict mill, a rusting machine, a lone chimney marking the site of a once-thriving industry.

The Heritage Council, conscious of this often-neglected part of our heritage, supported the publication in 2002 of a Guide to the Recording and Conserving of Ireland’s Industrial Heritage. This guide, co-authored by Fred Hamond and Mary McMahon, sought to raise awareness of what we have as well as giving simple guidance as to how to record and conserve it.

Download the guide here

Since then, a number of local authorities have carried out paper and field surveys of industrial sites, the results of which will be found on their web sites. The National Inventory of Architectural Heritage has also surveyed numerous industrial sites and highlighted those of special heritage significance. Some have since been included in the Record of Protected Structures as a result of this work.