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HMS visit to the Ruhr region 20 – 22 September 2024

By March 10, 2024July 31st, 2024No Comments

HMS visit to the Ruhr region of Germany
20 - 22 September 2024

As the Historical Metallurgy Society has become more international in recent years, we are planning to undertake short visits to various areas with metallurgical history throughout Europe. Our first such visit is planned for next September to the Ruhr region in Germany. The highlights of the visit are:

  • The 20th century blast furnace at Duisburg re-invented as a recreational area with cinema, diving, climbing areas and much more. Guided tour of the furnace with torches in the evening.
  • Presentations on current research in Germany on historical metallurgy by some of the leading professionals in their fields. To be held in the old control room of the blast furnace.
  • Open-air museum at Hagen with working 18th and 19th century metalworking mills. Also, the last chance to see the experimental Iron Age domed iron smelting furnace, to be demolished shortly after our visit.
  • The German Mining Museum in Bochum

Programme

Friday 20 September

Saturday 21 September: Landschaftpark Duisburg-Nord

Decommissioned blast furnace (1903 – 1985) transformed into recreation zone

– Morning: free visit (bicycle tour optional)

– Afternoon: presentations on recent research in Germany on historical metallurgy (see below)

– Dinner in restaurant in LandschaftsPark with light show on the ironworks

– Evening: guided tour (in English) of the blast furnace with torches

Sunday 22 September

 

Presentations

Prof. Dr. Ernst Pernicka Senior Professor Tübingen University, Scientific and Managing Director Curt-Engelhorn-Zentrum Archäometrie (CEZA) Archaeometallurgical research at the Curt-Engelhorn-Zentrum Archäometrie (CEZA)
Prof. Dr. Sabine Klein Head of Archaeometallurgy, Deutsches Bergbau-Museum Bochum Archaeometallurgy at the German Mining Museum Bochum: a particularly strong research group with a history, a present and a future
Dr. Guntram Gassman Mining Archaeology Specialist for the Heritage Service of Baden-Württemberg Ancient Iron Production in the West of Germany
Dr. Bastian Asmus Labor für Archäometallurgie, Herbolzheim Selected Notes on Recent Studies in Non-Ferrous Smelting, Casting, and Trade
Dr. Michael Farrenkopf Department Head of the Mining History Documentation Centre (montan.dok), Deutsches Bergbau-Museum Bochum Industrial heritage and historical culture in the post-mining era: reflections and perspectives on the coking plant industry

 

Price and booking

Per person in a single room: £300 (c. 355 euro), per person sharing a double room: £250 (c. 295 euro)

Bookings are now closed. Please contact the HMS Event Officer (prondelez@yahoo.com) with any questions about the event.

Included:

  • Two nights hotel stay with breakfast
  • Bus to and from the Landschaftpark
  • Bus to Hagen/Bochum, return to Duisburg station
  • Evening meal in Landschaftpark restaurant on Saturday
  • Coffee/tea during presentations
  • Torch tour on Saturday evening
  • Entry fees to Hagen and Bochum museums

Not included

  • Flights and transport to and from Duisburg
  • Lunches in the Landschaftpark and in Hagen
  • Bicycle rental in the Landschaftpark (optional)

Practical

Getting there:

There are several close international airports to Duisburg (link to airport destinations in brackets)

Cologne/Bonn https://tinyurl.com/4espvjey

Düsseldorf https://tinyurl.com/2dpuer6e

Dortmund https://tinyurl.com/2m258ha7

Weeze (Ryanair only) https://tinyurl.com/4espvjey

!Note that some online flight aggregators have recently stopped including Ryanair flights!

There are trains from all these airports to Duisburg station. From the station, take bus NE4 and get off at Kulturstrasse. Busses every hour on the half hour all day Friday till after midnight.

Also:

  • Please make sure to wear sturdy shoes and have weather-proof clothing.
  • Be aware that there is quite some walking involved on both days