Longford Industrial Heritage Survey 2020

Tender description

Longford County Council recognises the importance of our industrial heritage as part of the cultural and social development of County Longford. Our mills were of particular significance, reflecting the wider social and commercial landscape of the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries, as well as influencing the social and natural heritage of the county. In 2009, a desktop survey of Industrial Heritage in Co. Longford was undertaken, which identified the locations of potential sites of industrial heritage significance in the county. Separately, local historian, Seamus Mimnagh undertook extensive research on the corn and flour mills of the county, which, along with the 2008 survey, forms the baseline data for this project. The Longford Heritage Office is inviting suitably qualified and experienced teams to undertake field surveys of identified mills within County Longford. The survey will determine the current survival state and condition of the sites, to include buildings, machinery and associated water supply features, races, ponds, sluices etc. if any. The consultants shall also assess their potential for rehabilitation and reuse and provide outline conservation guidance for the owners/occupiers of the mills. The aims of the 2020 Field Survey are: • To survey identified corn/flour mill sites in the County: 25 No. Priority 1 sites, and 18 No. Priority 2 sites, (more details in the accompanying documents) • Document the condition of the sites and in particular any surviving machinery. • Provide baseline recommendations for conservation priorities. These should be short, (1-2 A4 pages if possible), written in ‘Plain English’ to provide key stakeholders with a clear starting point for future conservation/reuse. • Collate the information in an accessible database. This project is an action of the County Longford Heritage Plan 2019-2024, and is funded by the Heritage Council, with support from Longford County Council.