| Sumario: | In recent issues of Industrial Archaeology Review and Industrial Archaeology News, the debate concerning the form that Industrial Archaeology should take has resurfaced. In this contribution the author argues that there is now an ascendant social studies faction in the subject and that this is promoting an alignment with conventional archaeology which is serving to undermine further the original basis in industrial technology that gave rise to Industrial Archaeology. It is further suggested that these trends largely originate in the academic world and are in consequence detached from external developments. These external developments are creating a commercial environment where the paying client is the key force and Industrial Archaeology is failing to equip itself to deal with this situation. The article discusses a number of issues concerned with the debate. It is followed by a description and analysis derived from a recent field study on the doors of the Halifax Borough Market which it is contended represent a philosophy and technique that might form a basis for a more effective and coherent approach to commercialised Industrial Archaeology, whilst at the same time preserving academic credibility. A further contribution will, with the permission of the editor, discuss the centrality of technology to Industrial Archaeology and the reasons for its currently unfashionable status.
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