A heritage to reveal and protect. Historical water-based paper mills and ironworks in Campania (Italy)

Abstract

[EN] Within the rich heritage of vernacular architectures, hydraulic power works still exists in various parts of the Campania region in the South of Italy: paper mills and ironworks show aspects that require further investigation. Built according to the orographic features of the landscape and in relation to water use and supply, these structures need to be deepened in terms of understanding with respect to their building techniques, production technologies and principal vulnerabilities. Despite its relevance, in fact, the lack of knowledge about this water-related heritage in its material consistency, and the associated risk of loss for misuse or abandonment, needs to be addressed. Accordingly, this paper presents the first outcomes of a study about the evolution of ironworks and paper mills’ recurring assets, technologies and building techniques from the proto- to early industrial period; highlighting the historical adaptation skills to water and other local resources, as well as the vital connection of these historical factories to wider hydraulic systems in their territory. It is part of a broader applied research about water-related built heritage carried out at the University of Naples, in which educational activities and exchanges with local authorities have been combined. The paper offers new data on paper mills and ironworks construction history and their sustainable operation starting from the selection of relevant case studies in the regional context and through the crossing of direct field observations and indirect sources (e.g., bibliographical, iconographic, and archival), also to define a knowledge basis for future protection and preservation strategies.