Project Summary
The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) awarded Swansea University and its partners £95,000 to raise awareness of the rich heritage of a once internationally-famed Welsh copper industry. This partnership embraced academia, the heritage sector and local and global communities to tell the story of Welsh copper through a national travelling exhibition, websites, social media, 3D animations and a host of events.
Through high-quality research from a range of scholars, the Copper Project explored and communicated the development of Welsh copper as the first fully integrated global industry. It examined its role in multiple aspects including technological innovations, international trade and Atlantic slavery, cultural and social consequences, and its aftermath in reclamation and regeneration.
Situated in the region that was at the heart of the industry, the project sought to have a positive impact on local policy making in urban regeneration, heritage and education. This placed particular emphasis on contextualising the interpretation and care of the extensive industrial archaeological sites of world significance that are located in the Lower Swansea Valley, and contributed to the ongoing development of the knowledge economy in the local area and more broadly across Wales.
Principal Investigator: Prof. Huw Bowen
Research Officer: Dr. Tehmina Goskar
Welsh Copper in less than 2 mintues
With audio soundtrack, 1:51mins
Key Facts
- Full project title: History, Heritage and Urban Regeneration: The Global and Local Worlds of Welsh Copper
- Funded by Economic and Social Research Council's Follow on Funding Scheme
- Total funding: £95,000
- Duration: 1 September 2010-31 August 2011
- 5 major partners, supported by an advisory group
- Led by Prof. Huw Bowen, History & Classics, Swansea University
- Supported by Dr. Tehmina Goskar, History & Classics, Swansea University
Impact factors
- Interdisciplinrary academic-heritage collaborations
- Influencing public policy on the heritage-led regeneration of Swansea copperworks sites of world significance
- Powerful knowledge exchange initiatives through exhibitions, free events and online publishing
- Creation of high-quality, free to use resources for teaching, learning and continuing professional development
Reports
- Copper Project on the BBC (with video)
- Outputs published on the ESRC website