The Engineering Heritage Awards, formally known as the Engineering Heritage Hallmark Scheme, were established by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) in 1984 to identify and promote artefacts, locations, collections and landmarks of significant engineering importance.
Development of the Awards Engineering Heritage Hallmark Scheme (EHHS) In 1984, IMechE launched its Engineering Heritage Hallmark Scheme. For an object or artefact etc. to be considered for an award, an IMechE member would be required to complete a nomination form and submit it to the Institution. Upon submission, two referees would be appointed, one nominated by the Regional Committee where the object is located and a second independent referee. The submissions from both referees would then be reviewed by the Institution's Technical Support department before a decision was taken on the application.
Engineering Heritage Awards (EHA) In 2007, the Institution established the Heritage Committee to relaunch and promote the now renamed Engineering Heritage Awards. It simplified the application process, making it more transparent and with a quicker decision-making process. Furthermore, the criteria were changed, and the Institution's own library and information service became involved in the verification of details being submitted. The Award plaque was also redesigned (see below).
EHHA and EHA plaques Since 1984, the plaques presented to EHHS and EHA recipients have changed four times. The original plaque was a blue ceramic disc approximately 40 cm in wide. This was replaced in the 1990s by a rectangular steel plate mounted on a wooden base.
With the launch of the Engineering Heritage Awards in 2008, a new cast plaque was created. This was slightly modified in 2009 to reflect the rebranding of the Institution.
Engineering Heritage Award recipients Heritage Award Recipient Date Awarded Location Citation 1CA Parsons No. 5 Generator26 June 1984 Parsons Building, Trinity College, Dublin This was one of the first commercial machines based on the 1884 patent by Charles A Parsons for a steam turbine and used a dynamo as load. Output 65 amps, 100 volts at a speed of 12,000rpm. Presented to Trinity College, Dublin by Gerald Stone, BAI, 1911. 2Claverton Pump28 October 1984 Claverton Pumping Station, Ferry Lane, Claverton, Bath. BA2 7BH Designed by John Rennie 1761–1821. Built 1820–1813. Restored by Kennet and Avon Canal Trust 1969–1976. 3 Ffestiniog Railway9 April 1985 Ffestiniog Railway, Harbour Station, Porthmadog, Gwynedd. LL49 9NF In 1863 the company pioneered the use of narrow gauge steam locomotive haulage. The Fairlie patent design of articulated bogie locomotive and Britain's first bogie coaches were successfully introduced in the 1870s. These innovations led to worldwide exports for British technology. 4 1930 Garratt Class Steam Locomotive No. 2352 26 September 1985 Science and Industry Museum, Liverpool Road, Castlefield, Manchester. M3 4FP Made by Beyer, Peacock & Company. Established in 1854 at Gorton, Manchester, the firm became world-renowned for its locomotives. Charles Beyer and Richard Peacock were founder members of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. 5River Don Engine 10 October 1985 Kelham Island Museum, Alma Street, Sheffield. S3 8RY A three-cylinder 12,000 hp engine with Joy valve gear, one of the most powerful surviving steam engines in the world. Built in 1905 by Davy Brothers of Sheffield and installed at Cammell's Grimesthorpe Works to drive an armour plate rolling mill, this engine was transferred to the River Don Works of English Steel Corporation where it remained until Easter 1978. 6 Cragside 26 November 1985 (Rededicated 15 November 2013) Cragside, Rothbury, Morpeth, Northumberland. NE65 7PX The House of Lord Armstrong (1810–1900), inventor, engineer and armaments manufacturer. His hydraulic and hydroelectric inventions were applied throughout the estate. The house was the first in the world to be lit by electricity derived from water power. 7 Maudslay Rope-Forming Machine 2 April 1986 Chatham Historical Dockyard, The Old Surgery, Chatham Historic Dockyard Kent. ME4 4TZ Designed and manufactured in 1811 by Henry Maudslay (1711–1831). It was used to re-rope HMS Victory and is still in use today. 8Eling Tide Mill 29 August 1986 Eling Tide Mill, The Tollbridge, Totton, Southampton. SP40 9HF Restored in 1980 as a working tide mill museum. The only surviving mill in the world harnessing the power of the tide for the regular production of wholemeal flour. 9 Boulton and Watt Engine 19 October 1986 Crofton Pumping Station, Crofton, Marlborough, Wiltshire. SN8 3DW The world's oldest steam engine still able to perform its original function. Presented to mark the year of the 250th anniversary of the birth of James Watt.10Kirkaldy Materials Testing Machine 28 April 1987 Kirkaldy Testing Museum, 99 Southwark Street, London. SE1 0JF (open on first Sunday of the month) Built in 1865 to David Kirkaldy's design. This machine established the present-day system of materials testing and specifications of mechanical properties for engineering materials.11Tower Bridge28 April 1987 Tower Bridge, Tower Bridge Road, London. SE1 2UP Built to the design of Sir John Wolfe Barry. The whole mechanical construction is unique in the world and the acme of steam and hydraulic power of the Victorian era.12Post Office Underground Railway 28 October 1987 Plaque presented to Mount Pleasant Post Office, London. (Railway opening to visitors from September 2017) Opened 5 December 1927. The first automatic electric railway and the only postal railway in the world, providing a unique solution to the problem of transporting large volumes of mail across a capital city. 13Bellerophon 19 March 1988 Plaque at Museum of Rail Travel, Ingrow near Keighley, West Yorkshire. BD21 5AX. (Bellerophon on loan to Foxfield Railway, Stoke-on-Trent) Built in 1874 to Josiah Evans’ design at his family's Haydock foundry. The earliest surviving example of piston valves in a steam locomotive. Restored to full working order by the Vintage Carriages Trust in 1985. 14 Huntsman Crucible Furnace and Tilt Hammers 12 May 1988 Abbeydale Industrial Hamlet, Abbeydale South Road, Sheffield. S7 2QW The furnace (1829) is the world's oldest surviving example of the type developed by Benjamin Huntsman. In its day it represented a great metallurgical achievement.
The tilt hammers (1785) are probably the oldest set on their original site. They exemplify engineering technology in the heyday of water power. Together they symbolise the achievement of steel-makers and engineers which provided the foundations of the Industrial Revolution. 15Locomotion No. 1 19 May 1988 Darlington Railway Museum , North Road Station, Darlington. DL3 6ST Locomotion was built to a design originated by George Stephenson, the first President of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.
On the opening day of the Stockton & Darlington Railway, 27 September 1825, he drove this engine, hauling the inaugural train, on the world's first steam-worked public railway. 16Hawker Siddeley Harrier 25 October 1990 (Rededicated 18 October 2012) RAF Museum Hendon, Grahame Park Way, London NW9 5LL The world's first operational V/STOL aircraft which entered service in 1969.
Developed from the P1127, a concept by the Hawker Aircraft and Bristol Siddeley Engines design teams under the leadership of Sir Sydney Camm and Sir Stanley Hooker. 17Princess of Wales Conservatory 2 May 1991 Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond. TW9 3AB Designed by PSA Projects and opened on 28 July 1987 as the world's most advanced energy-efficient conservatory.
It incorporates ten different climatic zones, created and maintained by a fully integrated computer-controlled system.18 Thames Barrier 14 June 1991 Thames Barrier Learning Center, 1 Unity Way, Woolwich, London. SE18 5NJ Officially opened in 1984, it is the world's largest navigable flood barrier and incorporated novel and unique engineering design and operation of equipment.
It is vital and effective in London's flood defences as well as being one of the capital's aesthetically pleasing major structures.
Project sponsored by the Greater London Council. Consulting engineers Rendel Palmer and Tritton. Operated by the National Rivers Authority. 19Tees Transporter Bridge 2 December 1993 (Rededicated 19 October 2011 for its 100th anniversary) Tees Transport Bridge, Ferry Road, Middlesbrough. TS2 1PL This is the world's longest operational transporter bridge.
Since its opening in 1911 it has provided a reliable crossing of the Tees, without the need for approach embankments, allowing freedom of passage to ocean-going vessels. Designed by Mr GC Imbault of Cleveland Bridge & Engineering Company and built by Sir William Arrol & Co.20 Wortley Top Forge 25 March 1994 Wortley Top Forge Industrial Museum, Forge Lane, Thurgoland, South Yorkshire. S35 7DN The world's oldest surviving heavy-iron forge, operated from 1620 to 1908.
It earned a worldwide reputation for the quality of the railway axles produced in the 19th century. It was a pioneering example of integrated engineering, combining research, design, and manufacture and testing. 21Thames Water Ring Main 13 July 1994 Throughout London. The Award was presented to Thames Water at its Islington offices. This is a unique water distribution system with a pressurised closed tunnel ring of drinking water, gravity fed from several treatment works. 22 Theo Williamson's House 14 February 1995 65 Gilmore Place, Edinburgh. EH3 9NU (The house is now a 4 star bed and breakfast) In this house lived David Theodore Nelson Williamson 1920–1992. Mechanical and Electrical Engineer. Originator of high-quality sound reproduction through his amplifier. World pioneer in the application of Numerical Control to Machine Tools which led to Computer-Aided Manufacture. 23Turbinia 30 November 1995 Discovery Museum, Blandford Square, Newcastle upon Tyne. NE1 4JA TS Turbinia epitomises the achievements of Sir Charles Parsons, world renowned engineer and inventor.
Turbinia is powered by his greatest invention, the first practical steam turbine, which transformed high speed ship propulsion and established the foundation for present-day electrical power generation. 24Trevithick's Penydarren Locomotive 7 February 1996 National Waterfront Museum, Oystermouth Road, Maritime Quarter, Swansea. SA1 3RD Richard Trevithick's Penydarren Locomotive was constructed in 1804 and was operated by the Merthyr Tramroad. This is a replica of that machine which drew widespread recognition of the potential for rail traction of Trevithick's high-pressure steam engine. 25 Bryan Donkin's Rose Lathe 3 April 1996 The engine was donated to the Science Museum, London. It is stored within their archives and not on display. The intricate patterns engraved by this geometric lathe were used for over a century to protect bank notes and documents from forgery. In tandem with Bryan Donkin's unique pantograph milling machine, the lathe produced high precision compound metal dies for printing simultaneously in two colours. 26 Rolls-Royce RB211 Engine 3 May 1996 Rolls-Royce Heritage Centre, Derby. DE24 8BJ The RB211 is the first, and at present the only, three-shaft, high bypass ratio aero engine in the world to go into production. 25 years on, it is still setting new standards of reliability and durability. 27 Otto and Langen Engine 10 July 1996 Anson Engine Museum, Anson Road, Poynton, SK12 1TD This engine (Nº379) c1872 is one of about 1,300 built by Crossley Brothers, Manchester to a Nicolaus August Otto design patented in 1866.