Engineering Heritage Awards

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Engineering Heritage Awards

The Engineering Heritage Awards, originally called the Engineering Heritage Hallmark Scheme, are awards given by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) to recognise artefacts, sites, buildings, collections and landmarks of engineering importance. These are items that have changed the way society lives or works.

How the awards work
- A member of IMechE can nominate an item for an award.
- Two referees review the nomination: one from the region where the item is located and one independent referee.
- IMechE’s Technical Support department decides after reviewing the submissions.
- In 2007 the scheme was relaunched and renamed the Engineering Heritage Awards to make the process simpler and faster, with more verification from IMechE’s library and information services.
- The award plaques have been redesigned a few times to reflect branding changes.

What kinds of things are recognised
- Objects, places, collections and landmarks in engineering that have influenced the way people live, work or travel.

Notable examples (illustrative list)
- Castle Bromwich Assembly Plant (UK) – World War II Spitfire factory, now part of Jaguar Land Rover.
- Concorde – Supersonic passenger jet, a landmark in aviation.
- Supermarine Spitfire K9942 – Early iconic fighter aircraft.
- Mallard – The famous steam locomotive and speed record holder from 1938.
- The Falkirk Wheel – The world’s only fully rotating boat lift.
- HMS Belfast – A major Royal Navy cruiser from World War II.
- The Newcomen Engine – A pioneering early steam engine, central to the Industrial Revolution.
- Papplewick Pumping Station – A Victorian water works with illustrated engineering history.
- The Smethwick Engine – One of the world’s oldest working steam engines.
- Tyseley Locomotive Works – A center for steam locomotive engineering.
- Several other important engines, ships, railways, aircraft and industrial facilities from around the world have also been recognised over the years.