An atmosphere of industrialisation: Approaching historic pollution in museum collections

When planning for the future, it might seem counterintuitive to think about the past. However, by looking to the historic and archaeological record it is possible to see how pollution has affected the world around us through time. 

This knowledge can aid us today in understanding the long-term impacts of pollution and help us develop strategies for a more equitable and sustainable future.

Pollution has become a ubiquitous part of our world. It comes in many different forms and has impacted the air, water, and land.  The impacts of pollution need to be addressed to ensure future generations inherit a healthy environment to live in.

This one-day workshop at Derby Museum will use ancient and historic collections to explore the impacts of atmospheric pollution, particularly from the Industrial Revolution. You will be taken through a case study that is currently underway on artefacts within Derby Museums’ collections. This includes Pa-Sheri, a mummified person who lived in Thebes, Egypt around 300 BCE, and stones from the original Anglo-Saxon St Alkmund’s Church in Derby dated to approximately 850 AD. These pieces of the past come from very different times, places, and cultural situations. However, they were all exposed to an atmosphere of extreme pollution in Derby during the 19th century, as the city and country quickly industrialised. You will hear from specialists in analytical science, museum curation, and historic academic research, discussing how they engage with museum collections in their work to uncover unknown, lost, or overlooked knowledge about the past. This will be followed by a tour of key pieces of Derby Museums’ collections that, as part of their own biography, tell stories of pollution in the past that can still be felt today.

The afternoon session consists of a workshop, facilitated by Alison Solomon, storyteller and science communicator, and Dr Lenore Thompson.

The data from the case studies of Pa-Sheri and the Anglo-Saxon stones from St Alkmund’s church presented in the morning session will make up some of the workshop materials. You will have the opportunity to collaborate with workshop attendees to co-create innovative ways to interrogate museum collections, explore stories of heritage pollution, and think through the approaches you feel would best communicate the stories of past industrialisation, the impacts on our present and future, and how this information can be used to inform sustainable choices for the future. Outputs from the workshop will be collated into a toolkit for analysing pollution in museum collections and creating narratives about our past and future.

Catering and refreshments will be provided throughout the day.

Suitable for adults. Booking essential.

Accessibility at Derby Museums