The Industrial Revolution was a period where changes in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, transportation, and technology had a profound effect on the social, economic and cultural conditions of the times. It marks a major turning point in history when almost every aspect of daily life was influenced in some way.

Heritage of Industry is the leading specialist in creating tours which give people the opportunity to explore the world of Engineering History and Industrial Archaeology and to discover Enterprise & Innovation over the Centuries. We use our expertise to open up areas and sites to anyone who has an interest in this field and, using our many contacts, are often able to gain access to places not generally visited by, or indeed not open to, members of the public or other tour groups.

Tours are researched and led by experts in the field who provide a wealth of information to tour members many of whom return time and again to enjoy the experience of travelling with Heritage of Industry. We are small, friendly and flexible and have been organising specialist tours to many parts of the world including the UK, Europe and further afield for more than 30 years.

We are the exclusive overseas tour provider for the Association for Industrial Archaeology and we have also organised events for Newcomen the International Society for the History of Engineering and Technology.

Heritage of Industry would also like to forge relationships with other societies, in the UK and abroad, to make our skills available for the benefit of their members. If you would like to talk to us about a bespoke tour for your group then get in touch via the Contact page.

And this is who we are:
Bill Barksfield Operations Director Bill Barksfield - Managing Director
Bill was born and raised in the heart of the chairmaking industry in the Chiltern Hills but graduated in Computer Science from Brunel University and then spent many years in the IT business designing and building systems for City institutions.  During that time he also had a long involvement with BCS The Chartered Institute for IT, organising events for the West London Branch.  Bill's main interests outside of work are the History of Engineering, Industry, Science & Technology and travel.  He has now left IT behind and is combining his interests managing Heritage of Industry.  He serves on the AIA Council and is a member of the Newcomen Society, GLIAS, the Victorian Society, the Inland Waterways Association, the Cotswold Canals Trust, the Railway and Canal Historical Society, the Computer Conservation Society, the Kew Bridge Engines Trust and the Society for Industrial Archaeology in the United States.  If there's any time left over  he also maintains a website chronicling the local history of the village of Frieth.
Sue Constable - Tour Director
Sue was born in Buckinghamshire but moved to Hastings at an early age. She read History and Archaeology at Liverpool and also has a qualification in museum studies. She may have started out as an archaeologist but soon changed to being a social and industrial historian. She has worked in museums for most of her life, apart from a spell teaching and a break when her daughter was small. Much of her work in museums has been with industrial collections, ribbon weaving, nail-making and shoemaking. With her husband, Mike, she has explored much of the British and European waterways network. As a social historian she is interested in how people live and how they organise their living spaces and environment. A mind like a dustbin (clean, of course) and an insatiable curiosity have led to her gathering all sorts of odd facts and she likes to seek out the unusual and the quirky.
Paul Saulter - Founder & Special Advisor
Paul founded Heritage of Industry (then known as "Cornwall of Mine") in 1989 organising tours of the mining industry in Cornwall and was chief executive until the end of 2011 then Chairman until February 2015. He is a past President of E-FAITH, the European Federation of Associations of Industrial and Technical Heritage. Paul was born in Surrey but was brought up in Cornwall, which might account for his interest in mining! After Truro School, he studied modern languages at Oxford and after a spell with the CEGB, became Deputy Head of the Overseas Division of the British Electrical and Allied Manufacturers Association, which launched him on his career in international affairs. He was Director of International Affairs for the British Chambers of Commerce, Secretary-General of the British Chamber of Commerce in France and Chief Executive of the Manchester Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He was Secretary of the foreign trade working group of the European mechanical and electrical engineering trade organisation, a member of the Council of British Chambers of Commerce in Continental Europe and of the CBI Export Promotion Committee. He is a member of the Association for Industrial Archaeology and of Newcomen, the International Society for the History of Engineering and Technology, for both of which he has served as Council member and organised visits abroad.