The multi award winning Kew Bridge Steam Museum is set to be recognised as one of the most important sites in Europe's industrial history. On Friday 15th September the museum will be awarded a plaque by the European Route of Industrial Heritage as the only London ‘Anchor Point’ out of 23 other UK Anchor Points. The EU-funded project seeks to raise awareness of and stimulate interest in industrial heritage, in particular our common European heritage. 

 

The European Route of Industrial Heritage (ERIH) is a network of the most important industrial heritage sites in Europe spanning Great Britain, Germany, France, Luxemborg and the Netherlands. It takes visitors on an exciting journey of discovery along the milestones of European industrial history. From disused production plants, to industrial landscape parks and inter-active technology museums the route consists of Anchor Points. These are outstanding industrial monuments in the former heartlands of the Industrial Revolution.

Anchor Points tell tourists what they can see at a local level and visitors of all ages can relive their industrial heritage in the form of attractive guided tours, multi-media presentations and special events. All the anchor points are simultaneously starting points for a variety of regional routes.

 

Oliver Pearcey, Kew Bridge Steam Museum Trustee and Director of Special Projects at English Heritage said: “ We are absolutely thrilled to be receiving an Anchor Point plaque. We hope that our participation in ERIH will help build strong European bridges and make the past work for today and the future.” 

"ERIH is a fantastic opportunity to develop pride in our European industrial heritage." said David Buckley, UK ERIH Co-ordinator.  "Our partners from Germany, the Netherlands and the UK are working together to encourage visitors of all ages to explore the treasures of industrial heritage.”

 

The first Anchor Point plaque launching ERIH was presented to Ironbridge Gorge Museums, Shropshire, in September 2005 for Coalbrookdale Museum of Iron.