Celebrating our Engineering Heritage

The status of engineers in the UK has been a topic frequently discussed and debated, with many complaining that the great British public neither understand nor value engineers and engineering.

That complaint is both correct and incorrect. Correct because too many people are unaware of the roles and responsibilities undertaken by engineers throughout every part of our economy. Incorrect because there is an aspect of engineering the public are passionate about, engineers whose names or inventions are known and respected - . Brunel and Barnes Wallis, Hurricanes, Spitfires and the Mini, Robert Stephenson, James Watt and Frank Whittle. For proof just see the queues of cars entering Duxford and Goodwood, or the crowds who wait lineside to catch a glimpse of Flying Scotsman. 

This is one reason why the Institution celebrates industrial heritage. It is a chance to remind the world of the importance of engineers and engineering, as true today as it ever was. Celebration is also warranted as the heritage industry is a sector in its own right, an industry that creates wealth and employment and contributes towards the wider economy. Moreover, every discipline can learn something from its own history, and so every learned society should devote some time in studying its own past. 

In 2007, the Institution established the Engineering Heritage Committee, whose primary role is assessing applications for the Engineering Heritage Awards (EHA). Since 1984, 109 EHAs have been awarded. Recipients date from the dawn of the Industrial Revolution to the modern day, from the famous to the obscure. In 2014, the Institution celebrated the Awards, giving its 100th to the Old Furnace at Coalbrookdale Ironworks, in recognition of the innovation and achievement of Darby and the Industrial Revolution pioneers.  

The more obscure sites and artefacts are just as precious as the famous. For these the award has a different value. The Institution can bask in the reflected glow when an award is made to Mallard, the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight or the Jaguar E-Type. When an EHA is awarded to a lesser known site, it allows the Institution to shine a light on it, a chance to generate publicity and public interest. The survival of industrial heritage depends on public interest; where there is significant public interest the funds and the skills will follow. Items such as steam locomotives, racing cars, aircraft from the world wars tend not to be in danger. They can attract volunteers and generate funds for restoration and conservation. Where there is little interest the artefact may be lost, a site or museum may enter a permanent decline, bereft of funding and volunteers.

The EHA process is simple. Anyone can nominate a site or an artefact, though it is advisable that  consent is obtained by the potential recipient in advance of submission. The application form is just a few pages long, but additional information such as photographs will make it easier for the committee to consider. The committee is always interested to see what outreach is taking place, is the object being used for education and inspiring future engineers. It is also an advantage if the item can be seen in action. 

Within engineering heritage sector, there is a tension between the need to preserve and the need to demonstrate. There are many cases where it would not be good to restore an artefact to working order; no one would suggest that Stephenson’s Rocket should be removed from the Science Museum and set to work. The act of doing so would destroy much of the locomotive. However there are many cases where it is appropriate to show the item doing what is was designed to do; that is often the only way to educate, thrill and interest the public.

So far in 2017 awards have been given to the Stretham Old Engine, the Killhope Wheel, the Rigid Hulled Inflatable Boat and the Newcomen Engine at Dartmouth. 

The Stretham Old Engine located deep in the Cambridgeshire Fens, dates dates to 1831. It was in use as recently as 1941 protecting farmland from flooding.

Bowman Bradley, Chair, IMechE's North East region presents Councillor Tracie Smith with the award for the Killhope Wheel

The Killhope Wheel was built in 1878 by William Armstrong to operate lead ore processing machinery at the Park Level Mine, County Durham.

The Newcomen Engine is a memorial to Thomas Newcomen, the inventor of the first practical steam engine, in his home town of Dartmouth. 

The EHA for the Rigid Hulled Inflatable Boat (RHIB) was awarded at Atlantic College in the Vale of Glamorgan. The RHIB is so simple in concept and has become so ubiquitous that it is easy to forget that there was a time when it did not exist, that it required invention and development. It is also easy to forget how important the RHIB has become, and how many lives have been saved by inshore lifeboats. 

In the 1960s, students and staff at Atlantic College were familiar with inflatable boats, but the fabric bottoms of these were easily damaged. Under the leadership of the Headmaster, Desmond Hoare, a design was developed that used inflatable tubes attached to a rigid V-shaped  hull . This produced a vessel that was robust and would stay afloat when swamped in heavy seas. The open transom allowed water to escape and the high-power engine gave good performance. 

The RHIB is a good example of innovative and logical design leading to a benefit to society, which of course is what engineering is all about. In this case, there was no financial reward to the inventors. Desmond Hoare, a former member of the Institution, sold the patent for £1 to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution in 1973, the cheque he received remains uncashed. 

The Atlantic College RHIB is a reminder that engineering heritage is not just about the Industrial Revolution or past glories but includes items from the very recent past, pieces of engineering still in daily use.

Join the Committee
The Heritage Committee are always looking for future committee members, especially young members. The diverse nature of industrial heritage and the way in which different groups in society have benefited from engineering innovation can only be assessed by a diverse committee.  For more information on the Committee, its remit and the commitment required, please contact our Engineering Heritage Awards team,  email:heritage@imeche.org, tel: 020 7973 1276.

Further information

Find out more about the Engineering Heritage Awards and the EHA nomination form.

Discover all the Institution's Engineering Award recipients on Historypin:

• Take a tour of our current collection of award recipients recipients
• Take a tour of our international award recipients.