This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2017/nov/21/industrial-heritage-being-left-to-rot-by-austerity-policies

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Industrial heritage being left to rot by austerity policies Industrial heritage being left to rot by austerity policies
(2 months later)
Letters
Tue 21 Nov 2017 18.28 GMT
Last modified on Mon 27 Nov 2017 13.24 GMT
Share on Facebook
Share on Twitter
Share via Email
View more sharing options
Share on LinkedIn
Share on Pinterest
Share on Google+
Share on WhatsApp
Share on Messenger
Close
Historic England’s moves to preserve Britain’s textile mill buildings (Report, 20 November) are welcome, but reopening the world’s only steam-powered cotton mill would be a better contribution than more building restorations. Burnley’s Queen Street Mill closed last year when Lancashire county council ran out of funds. It is a unique steam-powered operational weaving shed with a full range of machinery. Helmshore Textile Museum, with distinctive spinning mules, also closed. The county council sought other operators but few can take on projects of this scale. The National Trust did not intervene and Historic England offered advice but has not taken on a commitment. The national lottery provided funds to make Queen Street Mill accessible for visits, but this funding will be wasted unless reopening happens. These places should be among the north’s leading visitor attractions, capable of helping local regeneration. Instead austerity means that significant industrial heritage will slowly rot while money is found to prop up yet another stately home. Roger BackhouseUpper Poppleton, North YorkshireHistoric England’s moves to preserve Britain’s textile mill buildings (Report, 20 November) are welcome, but reopening the world’s only steam-powered cotton mill would be a better contribution than more building restorations. Burnley’s Queen Street Mill closed last year when Lancashire county council ran out of funds. It is a unique steam-powered operational weaving shed with a full range of machinery. Helmshore Textile Museum, with distinctive spinning mules, also closed. The county council sought other operators but few can take on projects of this scale. The National Trust did not intervene and Historic England offered advice but has not taken on a commitment. The national lottery provided funds to make Queen Street Mill accessible for visits, but this funding will be wasted unless reopening happens. These places should be among the north’s leading visitor attractions, capable of helping local regeneration. Instead austerity means that significant industrial heritage will slowly rot while money is found to prop up yet another stately home. Roger BackhouseUpper Poppleton, North Yorkshire
• Join the debate – email guardian.letters@theguardian.com• Join the debate – email guardian.letters@theguardian.com
• Read more Guardian letters – click here to visit gu.com/letters• Read more Guardian letters – click here to visit gu.com/letters
Heritage
North of England
Austerity
letters
Share on Facebook
Share on Twitter
Share via Email
Share on LinkedIn
Share on Pinterest
Share on Google+
Share on WhatsApp
Share on Messenger
Reuse this content